Purdue Extension to launch fitness filled month
September is Go4Life Month. This year everyone is encouraged to Get Ready! Get Moving! Go4Life!
Purdue Extension, the Ferdinand Public Library and the Tri-County YMCA are inviting you to join them to celebrate Go4Life Month.
Come to the Tri-County YMCA in Ferdinand on Tuesday, September 4 at 8:30 a.m. to join in the celebration. You’ll learn how to fit exercise and activity into your daily life to live better longer and receive a free Workout to Go Guide.
The program is free to the public and all are invited to participate.
Exercise and physical activity are good for just about everyone, including older adults. No matter your health and physical abilities, you can gain a lot by staying active. In fact, in most cases you have more to lose by not being active. Keep your mind sharp and your body healthy by staying active and mobile as you age.
Exercise and physical activity fall into four basic categories—endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Doing all four types will give you more benefits. Most people tend to focus on one activity or type of exercise and think they’re doing enough. Each type is different, though. Doing them all will give you more benefits. Mixing it up also helps to reduce boredom and limit your risk of injury.
Endurance or aerobic activities increase your breathing and heart rate. They keep your heart, lungs, and circulatory system healthy and improve your overall fitness. Building your endurance makes it easier to carry out many of your everyday activities.
Strength exercises make your muscles stronger. They may help you stay independent and carry out everyday activities, such as climbing stairs and carrying groceries. These exercises also are called “strength training” or “resistance training.”
Balance exercises help prevent falls, a common problem in older adults. Many lower-body strength exercises will also improve your balance.
Flexibility exercises stretch your muscles and can help your body stay limber. Being flexible gives you more freedom of movement for other exercises as well as for your everyday activities, including driving and getting dressed.
Feeling down? Get Up and get active. Research has shown that the benefits of exercise go beyond just physical well-being. Exercise helps support emotional and mental health. So, next time you’re feeling down, anxious, or stressed, try to get up and start moving!
As we age we can face chronic health conditions. If you have heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, or osteoporosis being active safely can improve some chronic diseases! You can exercise safely and feel better. It’s wise to talk to your doctor before starting—or changing—your exercise routine? Ask your doctor these 3 questions and get tips on how to exercise safely. Are there any exercises or activities I should avoid? Is my preventive care up to date? How does my health condition affect my ability to exercise? Your doctor will be glad you asked and support you in your plan to add exercise to your daily routine or increase your exercise level significantly. There’s a safe way for almost everyone to be more active. Even if you have a health condition, there are exercises you can do that offer great health benefits.
If you are interested in learning more about a workout you can do at home stop by your Dubois County Public Library during to pick up a free Workout to Go: Mini Exercise Guide. Start to build up your strength, flexibility, and balance with this free workout routine. These exercises are the best for older adults, at home or on the go.
