Madison Senior Center

Staying active, especially as you age, is crucial to your well-being- and there is no better time to start than while quarantined. Take this unusual circumstance as a chance to get back on track with staying active, creating a plan, and beginning to accomplish your goals. Not only will you experience less stressful symptoms, but your mind and body will thank you as well.
It is a common misconception that you need fancy equipment or machines to stay active, while really it is quite the opposite. Some of the best workouts can be done with no equipment, in the comfort of your own home.

Walking: Make sure that you are continuing to walk as much as you can. Even if you can't get outside it is very important to get up and get your blood flowing. Walking is one of the most underrated exercises and has hidden benefits such as lowering your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, colon cancer, and stress. Not only this, but walking can also help reduce blood pressure for people experiencing hypertension and can strengthen your bones. Make it your goal to get up and walk around the house for a certain amount of time each day.

Stretching: Stretching also has a great amount of benefits. Stretching is known for reducing back pain and arthritis, increasing blood flow, improving posture, and reducing the risk of falling. Next time when you are watching tv, take the time to do some simple stretches. Do this each day, and you will see and feel a result soon. Here are a few good stretches:

• Overhead Side Stretch: Stand with your legs apart or sit in a chair. Keep your torso straight, raise your arms over your head and lean to the left for 10-30 seconds. After doing this, repeat on your right side.
• Shoulder Stretch: Stand with your feet apart. Lift your right arm across your body. Place your left hand on this arm and pull it close to your chest. Do this to each arm for 10-30 seconds.
• Calf Stretch: Stand with one leg in front of you slightly bent while the second leg is straight behind you. Hold on to a wall for support, or do this exercise sitting. Press your heel into the floor and feel the stretch in your hamstring. Switch legs and do this for 10-30 seconds each.

Virtual Exercises: If you have the accessibility, take advantage of online streaming workouts. There are a variety of exercise apps that are free to download due to the closure of gyms, which can be extremely helpful. These videos walk you through step-by-step, and you can see what you should be doing. They are useful for all ages and can be a lot of fun!
No matter what type of exercise you are doing, make sure that you are taking care of yourself. Be careful, responsible, and cautious. Your health is the most important thing