As we continue into American Heart Health month, we wanted to remind you of one thing: Doing the exercise it takes to keep your heart healthy doesn’t have to be a chore! There are many-an-option for the easily-bored fitness-focused-over-fifty out there. If you’re finding your fitness routine isn’t fun, exciting, or motivating you to keep going, get off the treadmill of monotony and try one of these ideas:
If you ARE a runner, and you have been living life on a treadmill, get outside and find a trail running group to get involved with. Many communities have groups of adults of all ages that run in various outdoor environments. Not only will you get the adventure of running in new places, but you’ll also meet new people and make new friends.
- Swim! Swimming is an amazing full-body workout with a few unique benefits for people who may struggle with asthma or joint issues. Because most swimming happens in cool water, your core temperature stays lower, and therefore your heart doesn’t have to work *quite* as hard—which means you’re less prone to activity induced asthma. It’s also a super low impact activity, so it’s easy on the joints. Bonus points for swimming: most local pools have a hot tub to relax in after!
- Line Skating may seem like a thing of the 90s—but it’s actually an awesome cardio workout that builds & tones muscle in your legs & core. It’s also a much lower impact activity than running! It can be done outdoors on clean pavement/sidewalks, or indoors at a rink. Most skating rinks these days will host adult nights, too. It’s a great group or solo activity!
- To cyclers, cycling is an obvious choice—but for those of us that haven’t gotten on a bike in years… we promise, you never forget how to do it! It’s another activity that’s awesome in groups or alone—and you can choose between riding roads or heading to a trail for some off road riding!
- Play tennis! It’s never too late to pick up a new activity, and tennis is an enjoyable way to get out (or use an indoor court) with a few friends or a loved one!
There’s a seemingly endless list of things to do to keep your heart healthy as you get older—and we can’t fit them all here! Our online magazine and eBook shares stories of runners, cyclers, cross-fitters, and even table tennis players. What’s YOUR favorite fitness activity? What’s your story? Share it with us in the comment area below, or click here.
