


Once that amount of exercise becomesĮasy additional exercise can be added on a small amount at a time. Starting small, with manageable amounts of exercise daily, such as walking around the block, or even walking to the mailbox and back every day instead of waiting form some one else to get the mail, can be a great first step.

Many people feel that since 30 minutes is too much there is no point in even trying. Thirty minutes a day of exercise can seem like an unachievable amount if an individual is in poor health or has had a very sedentary lifestyle form any years. The first, and often most significant, challenge, is the challenge of getting started. Seniors face a variety of challenges when it comes to participating in aerobic activity. Stamina is also increased so that more activities can be participated in, for longer periods of time, without significant fatigue. Regular aerobic exercise can also lead to increased mobility, weight loss, increased mental agility, positive self image, and even faster healing times. It also increases the health and strength of the heart, lungs, and cardiovascular system. The main purpose of aerobic exercise is to increase overall health and fitness. Many assisted living and managed retirement homes also have gyms specially designed to meet the exercise needs of their residents. Many retirement communities have gyms staffed with people specially trained in helping seniors participate in aerobic exercise with minimum risk of injury. In some neighborhoods walking groups are formed to help provide the benefits of regular aerobic exercise along with the comradery of a group activity. Senior centers and community centers often offer exercise classes designed especially to be low impact to minimize the stress on seniors' joints. Many different options are available for seniors to participate in aerobic activity. In many cases, regular aerobic exercise can be an important part of managing chronic disease and reducing the occurrence of symptoms. Even individuals with chronic illness such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes can significantly benefit from aerobic exercise. For seniors, regular exercise is an especially important part of maintaining good health, mobility, and a positive outlook. DemographicsĪerobic exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone. Aerobics performed in the swimming pool, either individually or in a class setting, is also a great way to get a low impact aerobic workout. Activities like swimming are also excellent aerobic exercise with minimum impact on the joints. This type of aerobic activity may not be the most beneficial for individuals who have joint pain, or other problems with the lower body. Some tend to have a high impact on the knees and ankles, such as jogging. There are many other forms of aerobic exercise. Walking to the grocery store, walking the dog, or even going to get the mail are all great ways of getting light aerobic exercise.

Walking does not have to be done specifically for exercise to count. For individuals who have been mostly sedentary, starting with small amounts of walking, and working up from their, is a great way to start exercising. It is often recommended especially for people who have not recently been active. Walking is a highly effective form of aerobic exercise. Many activities that are pleasurable, and even functional, can be excellent aerobic exercise, especially for people who are just starting out. It does not even have to seem like exercise at all. Although these are both forms of aerobic exercise, aerobic exercise does not have to be that intense. When people think about aerobic exercises, they often imagine jogging, or exercises classes with lots of jumping, kicking, and running in place. As little as 15 minutes of aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on health. But for people who have not been exercising, even less can still have a significant health benefit. It is recommended that everyone who is able get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise almost every day. Aerobic exercise is in contrast to anaerobic exercise which usually involves intense activity that is short in duration, such as weight lifting. This causes the heart and lungs to work harder, and strengthens the lungs and the entire cardiovascular system. Because muscles need oxygen to function, the increased muscle activity associated with aerobic exercise causes the body to provide more oxygen to the muscles being used. It is intended to work more than one muscle or muscle group. DescriptionĪerobic means “with oxygen,” or “in the presence of oxygen.” Aerobic exercise is exercise of low or moderate intensity that is done for a moderate or longer duration. Aerobic exercise is sustained exercise that increases blood flow to the muscles, strengthening the cardiovascular system and lungs.
