You may not be interested in running a marathon or diving into the crazy world of extreme sports, but that certainly doesn’t mean that as an older adult, exercise is no longer important. In fact, to keep yourself limber and mobile so that you can maintain the lifestyle that works for you, exercise is even more important to the older generation.

As we age, it’s easy to let our physical health and fitness slide but this is right when you need it the most. A visit to one of the many available cardiac hospitals will show you the devastating effects that an inactive lifestyle can have on a mature body.

Besides the obvious stiffness and loss of flexibility that can make everyday activities difficult, extra weight, immobility and poor diet can put a massive amount of strain on the essential organs that have already put in a lifetime of work. The more fit and active a senior can be the less stress is put on organs such as your heart and lungs, as well as the overall health of your entire circulatory system.

One of the easiest and most enjoyable way to stay fit in your senior years is through non weight bearing exercises such as water treadmills, aquatic therapy or water aerobics. The natural buoyancy of water allows for a greater range of movement without the jarring and often damaging impact of the non-aquatic versions. Aquatic therapy also has the benefits of natural resistance, making it a method of exercise that doesn’t even feel like exercise.

A routine including something as gentle as swimming slow and regular laps or the steady rhythm of a water treadmill a few times a week can offer substantially increased circulation and mobility to seniors, which will also improve your overall health and quality of life.

Retiring from the workforce doesn’t mean that you can retire from fitness. Keeping yourself active and maintaining a healthy weight means that you will have the tools to celebrate those golden years to the fullest. You’ve earned your retirement so make sure that you can enjoy it.