Chair Aerobics in Assisted Living: Movement That Feels Good
Chair aerobics is a low-impact style of exercise that will help improve your cardiovascular health, increase strength, and help you find better flexibility and stability. It's beginner-friendly and inclusive, so seniors of all mobility levels can participate and gain the benefits.
Physically active seniors have greater overall health than those who don't exercise at all, which is why something simple like chair aerobics is so important.
At only a half hour's drive from Greenville, our Greer, SC, senior community is here to show you the specifics of why chair aerobics is so beneficial and give you tips on how to perform the exercises safely.
What Is Chair Aerobics?
Finding senior fitness in Greer sometimes only requires a sturdy four-legged chair without wheels. That's all you need to dive into your first chair aerobics session.
This style of exercise starts with you sitting down and doing various motions with your arms and legs. Once you begin, you'll be surprised to find how much it gets your heart pumping.
There are hundreds of different things you can do to achieve good exercise while seated, but some classics include:
- Marching in place
- Leg lifts
- Arm lifts
- Chair squats
- Seated jumping jacks
- Side bends
- Arm curls
- Core twists
Benefits of Chair Exercise
You may remain stationary in a chair, but you can get many benefits from this style of group exercise for seniors. The following reasons are why TerraBella Thornblade encourages residents to join our chair aerobics on Mondays and chair yoga on Wednesdays.
Improve Cardiovascular Health
Aerobic exercise is meant to get your heart pumping to help with cardiovascular health. Doing aerobics in a chair can give you the same health benefits as standing aerobics, but with the added benefits of being more inclusive for seniors.
Even doing these exercises once a week can have a positive impact on:
- Blood pressure
- Tension
- Weight maintenance
- Muscle endurance
- Muscle strength
Low-Impact Exercise
One of the biggest barriers to better fitness as a senior is mobility. It's not uncommon to have issues with mobility or other factors that make traditional exercises nearly impossible to do safely.
That's why the need for safe movement programs, like chair aerobics, is key to senior living communities.
By its very nature, seated exercise is low-impact and can accommodate many mobility issues. Many seniors who once felt barred from physical exercise find themselves overjoyed by the revelation of chair workouts.
No Risk of Falling
As long as you use a suitable chair and you don't push yourself too far, the risk of falling during your workout is next to zero. The chair will keep you stable the entire time, allowing you to focus on moving your arms and legs with correct posture.
Increase Flexibility
Staying active helps joints and ligaments remain soft and pliable. Many aerobic exercises include stretching as part of their base, which will amplify your flexibility even more.
Without good flexibility, joint pain is more common, and seniors tend to be less steady on their feet. By doing seated exercises, you'll improve your flexibility without even needing to do anything extra.
Improve Confidence
As you gain more muscle strength and endurance, you'll also give yourself a renewed sense of confidence. This will have a positive impact on things outside of your workout sessions.
For instance, confidence is a vital aspect of reducing the risk of falling. When you're timid with your steps, you're actually more likely to fall. Added to your stronger muscles, you'll soon find that you're more mobile than you've been in years.
If you do happen to start falling, you'll have the flexibility and strength to maneuver yourself for a better landing. You may even be able to catch yourself before falling completely.
Plus, confidence in yourself can make it easier to do other things like socialize or try a new activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should a Chair Aerobic Session Be?
This can depend on a few factors, depending on your health goals, your current physical state, and the kind of exercise you're doing.
Seniors can aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise. If chair aerobics is your sole workout focus, then you can break up that 30 minutes into smaller chunks and switch up the exercises in steady intervals.
An example workout session could look like:
- Ten minutes of marching in place
- Five minutes of arm lifts
- Five minutes of seated core twists
- Ten minutes of jumping jacks
Don't be afraid to adjust your workout to suit your needs and health goals.
What Are Common Mistakes in Chair Workouts?
A common mistake during chair workout is that people assume that, since they're seated, they need to push harder to achieve their goals. This can lead to injuries that prevent you from exercising at all.
You want to always listen to the signals your body gives you. If it's telling you that something hurts too much, it's a signal to stop and re-evaluate.
Should Knees Be Higher or Lower When Sitting?
Correct sitting posture is even more crucial when you're doing chair exercises. You want to have your back supported and the chair low enough so you can easily put your feet on the floor.
Your knees should be only slightly lower than your hips, meaning that there's a small incline in the seat of the chair. Your knees shouldn't be higher than this when sitting, no matter what assisted living activities you're doing at the time.
Find Wellness in Aging With TerraBella Thornblade
Participating in chair aerobics is only one way to find a better sense of well-being. Joining a senior community that helps keep you active and happy can make a big difference in your overall health.
If you're looking for a local Greer senior community, consider TerraBella Thornblade. We host activities like engaging exercises, arts and crafts, social gatherings, and more. We can work with you to create a personalized care plan that suits your needs without ever holding you back.
Make sure to contact us today to learn more about our welcoming senior community and how you can join the fun!