Benefits of Exercise

Exercise and Everyday* Go Together Exercise and Physical activity are vital to your health and independence. In addition, improving your endurance, strength, balance and flexibility can help you do many of your everyday activities. Read about some examples below.

Endurance Exercises

Activities such as walking, swimming and climbing stairs can make it easier for you to:

• Keep up with your grandkids at the zoo or at a park
• Vacuum
• Rake leaves

Strength Training Exercises

Activities such as using a resistance band, lifting weights, or using weight machines can maintain your ability to:

• Carry a full laundry basket from the basement to the second floor
• Carry your smaller grandkids
• Lift bags of mulch in the garden 

Flexibility Exercises

Activities such as Yoga, arm stretches and calf stretches can make it easier for you to:

• Look over your shoulder to see what’s behind you as you back the car out of the driveway
• Make the bed
• Bend over to tie your shoes
• Tennis is a great form of multiple types of exercise 

Balance Exercises

Activities such as Tai Chi, heel to toe walking and standing on one foot can maintain your ability to:

• Walk up and down the stairs
• Stand on your tiptoes to reach something on the top of a shelf 
• Walk on an uneven sidewalk without falling

*Source: NIH National Institute on Aging http://www.nia.nih.gov/