As we age, maintaining physical agility and coordination becomes more important for a fulfilling lifestyle. Exercising improves strength and flexibility, which helps improve balance and coordination and reduces the risk of falls. From going on daily walks to participating in group exercise classes, each of the following activities should aim to give you further empowerment through physical activity.

Daily Walks

Walking improves lower-body strength, an essential component of maintaining good balance. It engages multiple other muscle groups, improves posture and spatial awareness, enhances bone health and decreases blood pressure.

Taking a leisurely walk also provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. Explore new areas within your local community or take daily walks around Montereau’s lush, tree-lined campus to combine coordination exercises with stimulating scenery. Lace up your walking shoes and get on the road to better health, one step at a time.

Tai Chi 

Tai chi involves slow, flowing movements and deep breathing that promote balance and relaxation. It’s a gentle, low-impact form of exercise that makes it a safe option for seniors of varying fitness levels. Practicing tai chi regularly helps improve flexibility, strengthen muscles and sharpen coordination.

Additionally, research shows that it encourages arthritic joints to be more flexible to help decrease pain and offers numerous mental benefits, such as reduced stress and improved mood, focus and cognition. Seniors enjoy a lower risk of injury while still gaining substantial physical and mental well-being, all without breaking a sweat.

Yoga Classes

Yoga classes are another low-impact form of exercise and offer a gentle yet effective way for seniors to improve their physical and mental wellness. There are many styles of yoga, including yang yoga, a more active form that works your body’s muscles, and yin yoga, a more passive version that focuses on deeper connective tissues.

While most forms of yoga strengthen muscles, yin yoga improves overall flexibility, joint mobility and range of motion, which can help with coordination. Another plus is yoga is adaptable to match various fitness levels. Montereau’s lead wellness coordinator specializes in yoga instruction and offers two weekday yoga classes and chair yoga twice a week.

Resistance Band Exercises

Resistance band exercises utilize elastic bands to do various strength-training movements. The bands have varying resistance levels to match different fitness levels. These exercises benefit seniors because they’re low impact and help improve flexibility and coordination without putting excessive strain on their joints. 

Resistance band exercises can also help prevent age-related muscle loss, another factor in balance and coordination. Although resistance bands take some getting used to and may require a trainer to start, they’re relatively user-friendly and highly portable, allowing you to exercise anywhere.

Montereau’s Vitality Wellness Plan

Montereau is a Life Plan Community where wellness is at the core of our activity planning. Our Vitality Wellness Plan supports the five dimensions of wellness, including physical wellness to help enhance coordination through exercise. However, all five dimensions are vital to enhanced quality of life and overall well-being. These five dimensions include: 

• Social Engagement. Residents have hundreds of activities to help them enjoy their retirement and stay socially engaged, a crucial dimension of wellness.
• Intellectual Challenge. Keeping the mind stimulated through lifelong learning, book clubs, guest lectures and trips around Tulsa ensures residents active and improves intellectual wellness.
• Physical Well-Being. Residents enjoy an active lifestyle at Montereau, with a heated indoor pool and whirlpool spa, fitness classes and one-on-one coaching to enhance their physical wellness.
• Spiritual Fulfillment. As a non-denominational community, residents have a variety of religious services and Bible study groups to attend and access to a beautiful chapel on campus for quiet reflection that helps fulfill their spiritual wellness.
• Emotional Health. Residents embrace emotional wellness by taking charge of their own destinies by choosing the clubs and committees they want to join in a community where the team gets to know each of them by name.

Are you looking for more from Montereau? Listen to our Vitality Matters Podcast to learn more about those who live and work at Montereau. Contact us at 918-495-1500 to schedule a tour of our community today.