Best Workouts to Promote Longevity

Best Workouts to Promote Longevity

Decades of research has confirmed the many different ways exercise benefits the human body. Most notably, it directly supports those factors essential to a long, healthy life — mobility, heart health, brain health, muscle strength and more. To exercise regularly is to enhance the cycle of healthy aging.

That said, specific types of exercise make greater contributions than others. If your goal is longevity, here are some workouts you’ll want to prioritize.

Put Your Heart in It: Cardiovascular exercise such as running, biking, dancing and boxing can have a tremendous impact on people as they age. Cardiovascular activity strengthens the heart, thus lowering the risk of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of American adults. It also lowers blood pressure, cuts the risk of diabetes and does wonders for brain health. With aerobic exercise, your goal should be to sustain a moderate to vigorous intensity to reap the maximum benefit.

Lift Those Weights: It’s easy enough to incorporate strength training in your workout – just hit the weights at the gym. Regular bouts of weightlifting help maintain bone mass, bone density and muscle mass, three areas known to deteriorate as people age. If you’re new to the barbells, consult a health care professional before you start and consider taking strength-training classes.

Strike the Proper Balance: Falls are the greatest cause of injury-related deaths in people over 65 and are usually due to a lack of mobility. Exercise, by contrast, bolsters mobility, particularly through such balance-training activities as tennis and tai chi. With balance a challenge for so many older Americans, it’s important to consult a doctor or physical therapist before deciding which exercise is right for you.

Strength in Numbers: Social connection is crucial to aging well and living a fulfilling life, with data confirming that people who dwell amongst family or in welcoming communities tend to live longer than those going it alone. Suffice it to say, joining an exercise class means benefitting not only from the exercise, but the social connections as well.

Sustainability: The idea of incorporating longevity-focused exercise into your life is all well and good but how do you sustain the initiative? That is the real quandary many of us face. It helps to prioritize what you truly enjoy, whether it’s weights at the gym or a couple of sets on the tennis court. Also, you must commit to your exercise regimen. Consistency is the key, as the greatest benefits only come through regular, steady progress.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.