Six reasons to move more
Have you put off exercising because it’s too much work? Are you ready to make positive changes for your health?
Move more
Great news! You don’t have to make huge changes to feel the difference. There’s no need to worry about an intense full body workout for physical wellness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should work their way up to 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. That’s either 22 minutes each day, 30 minutes 5 days a week, or any other combination that fits into your life. You can even break those exercise sessions into smaller bursts, like standing for commercial breaks while watching TV and doing a few squats, or balancing on each leg until your show comes back on.
What can you do
Here’s an interesting fact about exercising: it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can tie healthy habits into your favorite activities and level up your enjoyment of life with various types of exercises. Walk the dog, try a yoga class, garden while enjoying the great outdoors, form a walking club with neighbors, dance to your favorite songs, park far away from a store to walk further, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Even vacuuming counts as physical activity.
Reasons to exercise
Individuals who aim for 6–8,000 steps per day risk lower their risk of premature death and achieve better emotional balance. But that’s not all. Here are 6 reasons to get up and move:
- Save money. Exercise can help you avoid significant costs that could come from a hospitalization or needing specialty prescription medications.
- Improve brain function. Who doesn’t wish for more clarity in thinking or better memory and recall? Exercise can help with both. Dementia is almost twice as common among those who are inactive.
- Prevent falls and injuries. Exercise helps strengthen your bones and muscles, especially when you add weights, especially during dumbbell workouts. Exercise also helps with flexibility and mobility, which can help you avoid falls.
- Get more social time. Did you know social isolation carries risks like cardiovascular disease and inflammation? After retirement and empty-nest syndrome, many seniors find themselves isolated. Going to a fitness club or walking with neighbors can lower these risks and elevate your emotional well-being.
- Prevent or reduce your risk of chronic conditions and disease. Heart disease and stroke are the two leading causes of death in America. Doing 150 minutes of exercise each week can lower your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It can also reduce the risk of serious outcomes like death from COVID, flu, and pneumonia.
- Live your best life. Exercise can help you better enjoy these years and feel more confident and joyful. Exercise can also help you manage your weight, get better sleep, experience less anxiety, feel more resiliency and purpose in life, and best of all—potentially live longer.
Stay active with SilverSneakers®
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, a no-cost gym membership may be included in your health plan. Sentara Medicare members can benefit from a SilverSneakers membership to stay on top of their health and wellness goals. Access thousands of participating locations nationwide, and enroll in as many classes as you like. *You can also work out from home with classes designed by instructors to meet a wide range of skill levels, interests, and abilities.
To find Sentara Medicare plans that offer SilverSneakers and other benefits, call us today!
October 1–March 31 | 7 days a week | 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
April 1–September 30 | Monday–Friday | 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Or visit www.sentaramedicare.com
References
Physical Activity Boosts Brain Health
*Participating locations ("PL") are not owned or operated by Tivity Health, Inc. or its affiliates. Use of PL facilities and amenities is limited to terms and conditions of PL basic membership. Facilities and amenities vary by PL. Membership includes SilverSneakers instructor-led group fitness classes. Some locations offer members additional classes. Classes vary by location. Y0174_0125_SHPRM_460030_C