How can the elderly remain motivated for the exercise? – News deseret

A group of 16 participants was gathered in a circle at the Murray Senior Recreation Center on Tuesday morning, each with the necessary equipment, including a chair and dumbbells, because they followed their instructors through various exercises.

While the participants performed in balance on one foot, Cathy Jeffs made fun of herself as she was fighting to balance.

The members of the class varied as age and capacity, but they all did their best to obtain training during the class. The oldest in the class, Verna Harshberger, who, at 94, could not do the standing exercises, changed these exercises for herself by being seated on her chair.

Jeffs said Harshberger was inspired him to come in class because “if she can do it too.”

The class also had some exercises to which they had given nicknames, such as “newspapers”, “sobriety test” and “Lisa’s Gargoyle” which was appointed for another class member, Lisa Shadrieck.

By exercising the “sobriety test”, where they must appear directly in front of their other foot, Shadrieck laughed and said that if one in the group should really do a sobriety test “we will all go. We have been practicing it for a long time, ”she grove

This class is the global fitness class of the leisure center, a free class that includes a variety of exercises that contribute to strengthening, cardiovascular health and flexibility. The class is taught by Kinesiology students from the University of Utah.

Exercise and physical activity are important for all ages, but as people age, staying active is important because it can help maintain independence and allows people to continue with common daily activities.

Here is an overview of how the elderly can remain motivated for the regular exercise as well as for certain directives on the reasons why physical activity is important and what it should look like.

Why exercise is important as you get older

One of the main reasons why people do exercise as they age is “to be able to maintain your independence and continue to do things, the activities of daily life, which are essential to be like an independent person”. said Traci Thompson, assistant professor of health, kinesiology and leisure at the University of Utah.

Thompson said that strength training can help people can enter and get out of the chairs, transport their own grocery store, mount the stairs, pick up their grandchildren and perform other daily activities.

“I think the main reason to lift weights is to keep your independence and continue to do whatever people want to do,” said Thompson.

Cardiovascular exercise also helps continue daily independence and maintain endurance. Thompson said it can be useful to attend family activities.

“When my children were young, my parents wanted to come and see them play football, right?” So they should park away from the football field and walk to the football field, “she said.

How to be motivated to exercise regularly

Staying motivated to exercise regularly can sometimes be difficult, but there are a few things that people can do to help them have this motivation.

Rebecca Davenport, head of the academic program for the Department of Sciences, Sports and Fitness of the University of Utah’s University, said it was important for people to take advantage of what they are doing during the exercise.

“Another thing to attract people is to discover what they like to do. Some people really like hiking. It’s their jam. So go go hiking, start them there. Maybe they really like to swim,” she said.

Davenport added that the exercise should be sure and that it should be fun. If someone finds the activity he is boring, he will not want to do it.

Thompson declared that remembering why they were doing the exercise and what it will help them can do can also help motivation.

“For a certain person, it might be important that they can go to Disneyland with their family next year and be able to walk,” said Thompson. “Another could be independent for a long time and not have to take care of yourself.”

Social support can also help people continue a habit of exercise, and it can take many forms.

Registration for exercise courses can provide motivation due to commitment to the class and have other people in the class who make it pleasant.

The overall fitness class is an excellent example, Jeffs shared that she liked to attend the class because she has new friends and learns new exercises, adding that “everyone was so nice”.

Jeffs began to take courses at Recreation Center after arriving to seek help with his taxes and learned all the resources of the center.

“I am happy to have come,” she said.

Mely Colotla, another regular class participant who has left for years, said that we love because she has fun and that it helps her “feel good”.

Another form of social support is to find a friend or a family member with whom to exercise. “The simple fact of knowing that this person will wait until you come to the gymnasium can help you go out,” said Thompson.

Recommendations for cardiovascular exercise

Cardiovascular or ordinary aerobic exercise is important for all adults.

THE American college of sports medicine Recommends that all healthy adults get at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.

Thompson gave examples of vigorous exercise: running, hiking and cycling, just “something that increases your heart rate and you work quite hard.”

“This might not be realistic for everyone, whether they are older or no longer,” she said, adding that the 150 minutes of moderate physical activity act as a good alternative “could be like gardening or walking in the neighborhood or a quieter bike ride”.

Thompson said some of these activities, especially those outside such as hiking and walks, can also help emotional and mental health.

Recommendations for strength training

Thompson said the ACSM Recommends that adults who are following force training at least two days a week. These strengthening exercises should also include all the main muscle groups.

These strength exercises can be done at home in the form of body weight exercises, with dumbbells or bands, and can also be done at the gymnasium. However, it is important to target each muscle group at least twice a week. It is also recommended to have a day of rest between days of strength training.

When it comes to deciding on the duration of these strengthening sessions, Thompson said it was a kind of type “choose your poison”.

When someone begins, force training should take around 30 to 45 minutes, said Thompson.

Force training is important to help slow the loss of lean muscle, which begins for most people around the age of 40.

“In some cases, we can stop it completely, but not forever. It will take us slowly, but to slow down this loss, the best way to do so is to do reinforcement exercises,” said Thompson.

According to Silver sneakers, Strength training can also help maintain strong bones, stimulate mobility, prevent falls, fight depression and slow cognitive decline.

According to Thompson.