WHY should senior citizens exercise?

Here’s why: if you don’t use it you’ll lose it.

Maybe some don’t care if they lose their strength and flexibility. Maybe they don’t mind if they can’t do daily activities like going up and down the stairs, tie their shoes, or just get around in general. I personally do care and want to do these things. They matter to me and my active lifestyle will bring more activity.

A lot of seniors seem to think that because they are older and have various conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, and whatever else, that they are prohibited from exercise. They seem to think that they can’t, that somehow their condition will become worse because of it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Excuses are just that, excuses. Starting an exercise program promotes health, your health. Any exercise can be modified to fit the needs of a senior citizen.

Sometime it takes a major event like a heart attack or a stroke to make one decide to change his or her lifestyle and add an exercise program to their daily routine. Sometimes these events could have been prevented by a more active lifestyle choice from the beginning.

Here at The Dang Gym many seniors just like you are taking advantage of having more free time on their hands and have made exercise a part of their lifestyle. If you’re interested in taking the first steps (literally) toward a better, healthier you, consider starting a walking program. This simple addition to your day helps to get your body moving again and puts the heart (the most important muscle you have) back to work. To facilitate your needs we provide an indoor walking track as well as treadmills and exercise bikes to completely take the weather out of the equation.

Also, consider a strength training program that will wake up those muscles that haven’t been used in a while. Give yourself three months and you will start to feel the results. You will also be healthier for your efforts. Here at the gym our knowledgeable staff of trainers are ready to help you get started and are well versed on the do’s and don’ts regarding our senior members.

The picture above is of one of our valued senior members, Keith Peck. He’s been working out regularly for the last twenty-five years (since he retired). He has been a member of The Dang Gym since we opened five years ago. You can catch him at the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He will be ninety-three on his next birthday. He’s a testament of what a senior can accomplish through exercise and an active lifestyle.

Bob Ed Watson
Senior Trainer
The Dang Gym