Corporate Fitness and Active Aging

Functional movement means training your body to move the way it does in daily life, using several joints and muscle groups at once instead of just one. Rather than sitting in a machine to work only a single muscle or group, you pull, push, squat, and twist in ways that match real-life actions like picking up groceries, climbing stairs, reaching overhead, or catching yourself if you trip. The main idea is simple: your body never moves just one muscle at a time, so your workout shouldn’t either.

Functional vs. Isolation Exercises

Traditional gym workouts often use isolation exercises like triceps extensions, leg curls, and chest flyes. These moves target one muscle at a time and are good for building up specific muscles, which is why bodybuilders use them. However, they don’t help your muscles learn to work together as one unit.

Why Training Multiple Muscles Matters

A study compared compound exercises like squats and rows to single-joint moves like leg extensions and bicep curls, with both groups doing the same amount of training. People who did compound exercises got stronger in all the exercises tested. This is probably because using several joints at once challenges and trains your nervous system more.

For example, someone who can power clean 200 pounds has taught their grip, back, hips, and legs to work together. Someone who only does heavy leg curls and back extensions might have strong muscles, but they haven’t practiced the coordination needed to safely lift heavy.

This doesn’t mean isolation exercises have no value. They are helpful for correcting a weak muscle or for bodybuilding. But if your goal is general fitness, better sports performance, or being able to handle daily tasks, functional compound movements give you more results for your time.

Functional Movement and Injury Prevention

One of the best reasons to do functional training is that it can lower your risk of injury. A review published in PeerJ looked at studies where athletes did functional correction training, which means checking for movement problems and then working to fix them. Athletes who did this training had a 60% lower risk of injury compared to those who didn’t.

The reason is simple. Most non-contact injuries happen when a weak spot in your body makes another part take on too much stress. For example, an athlete or person with weak hips might end up with knee pain. An office worker who can’t bend at the hips properly might hurt their lower back when lifting a suitcase. Functional training helps find and strengthen these weak spots before they lead to injuries.

How to Add Functional Movement to Your Workouts

If you’re new to functional training, the easiest way to start is to make sure your weekly routine covers all seven movement patterns. A workout with goblet squats (squat), deadlifts (hinge), walking lunges (lunge), push-ups (push), rows (pull), and a rotational exercise like woodchops (twist) covers every pattern. Walking or running takes care of gait.

Start with body weight or light resistance and focus on moving well before adding more weight. Good quality of movement matters more than how much you lift, especially in the first few months.

Lifting heavy is great for meeting your goals of increasing muscle size and tone, but it can also lead to joint pain and muscle imbalances. Adding a Loop Band to your training plan can help strengthen your stabilizing muscles in your hips and glutes. The band can also lessen strain on your knees and hips.

A loop band is like a resistance band, except it is a continuous loop. This allows you to put it around your ankles or knees without having to hold it with your hands. The shape of this allows for different uses than a traditional resistance band. The loop band comes in different lengths and thicknesses, allowing you to pick the correct band for your specific needs. Loop bands generate constant tension while doing the exercise, and the harder you pull against the band, the more it pulls back on you. The properties of these bands activate your stabilizer muscles during the full range of motion.

These stabilizer muscles are key in keeping your joints aligned and moving the way they are intended. Bands are a great change-up from heavy load workouts and are a fantastic supplement to protect your joints. Adding loop bands to your routine is a great way to add strength to your lower body, protect your joints, and engage your stabilizer muscles in your hips.

Lateral Band Walks

15-20 steps each direction x2

• Place the band around your ankles or just above your knees. Drop into a mini-squat position and take steady steps to the side, keeping the band stretched tight. This exercise builds outer hip strength and teaches your knees to track straight.

Standing Glute Kickbacks

15-20 total x2

• Keep the band around your ankles. Hold onto a stable surface for balance, tighten your core, and press one leg straight back behind you without arching your back. This isolates and sculpts your glutes.

Fire Hydrants

15-20 total x2

• Start on your hands and knees with the band positioned just above your knees. Keeping your knee bent at a 90-degree angle, lift your leg out to the side. This movement locks in hip stability and targets hard-to-reach muscles.

Clam Shells

12-15 per side x2

• Lie on your side with your knees bent and the band just above your knees. Keeping your feet glued together, open your top knee toward the ceiling like a clamshell to strengthen your deep hip rotators.

Glute Bridges

20-25 total x2

• Place the band around your thighs just above your knees. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Lift your hips toward the ceiling while gently pressing your knees outward against the band to maximize glute activation.

Glute Bridge w/ alt Leg Raise

12-15 / leg total x2

• Hold your body at the top of a standard glute bridge, then lift one foot a few inches off the floor while keeping your hips completely level. Alternate legs to challenge your core and hip stability.

At NIFS, we believe great wellness programming should be intentional, measurable, and responsive to the residents we serve. Data is an essential part of that philosophy, helping us better understand resident engagement, recognize progress, and continuously shape programming that supports meaningful outcomes. JumpStart is one piece of our broader service model that helps us put that philosophy into action.

In July, we placed a special focus on taking a closer look at the progress residents were making across our partner communities. The response? WOW!

In just one month 82 residents completed their jumpstart program, and the outcomes gave us a lot to celebrate! Of the 82 residents 53 were women and 29 were men; a summary of their results are below:

22% improvement in lower-body strength.

• Think of standing up from a chair more easily, navigating stairs, and having more strength for everyday transfers.

15% improvement in upper-body strength.

• Strength that supports carrying groceries, opening doors, lifting household items and completing everyday tasks.

23% improvement in cardiovascular endurance.

• More stamina for walking through the community, participating in outings, keeping up with friends and simply doing more throughout the day.

53% improvement in lower-body flexibility.

• Supporting everyday activities like putting on shoes and socks, getting dressed, reaching toward the floor and getting in and out of a vehicle.

45% improvement in upper-body flexibility.

• Important for reaching into cabinets, putting on a jacket, brushing their hair, and other daily activities.

8% improvement in balance and stability.

• Supporting confidence while changing direction, navigating uneven surfaces and moving throughout the community.

The July results gave us plenty to celebrate, but they also reinforced something even more important: this is part of how we do wellness at NIFS. What makes these outcomes so exciting isn't just what happened in an assessment, it's what those improvements can mean in real life. More strength can mean getting up from the dinner table independently, more endurance can mean saying yes to taking a walk with a friend, more flexibility can make getting dressed in the morning a little easier, better balance can mean feeling more confident moving throughout the community and sometimes seeing those results on paper gives the resident something equally important: proof that the work they're putting in is making a difference.

JumpStart isn’t a short-term campaign or a once-a-year initiative. It is part of our standard service model and our commitment to using data to better understand the residents we serve, demonstrate meaningful progress, and program with intention.

Across our partner communities, hundreds of residents have participated in the NIFS JumpStart program, giving our teams valuable insight into resident abilities, progress, and opportunities for continued engagement. That information helps us tell a bigger story, not just about participation, but about the impact wellness programming can have on strength, endurance, mobility, balance, independence, and everyday life.

Click below to learn more about NIFS and how we take your fitness and wellness programs from good to great!

Most of us know that exercise is good for our physical health. It helps us stay strong, improve our balance, support our heart health, and continue doing the things we enjoy. But movement is not only good for the body. It can also have a meaningful impact on how we feel.

Think about the last time you took a walk, stretched after sitting for a while, or joined a fitness class. There is a good chance you felt a little more energized, relaxed, or positive afterward. Movement can be a simple way to support both our physical and emotional well-being. The best part is that you don’t need to complete a long or difficult workout to feel the benefits.

Movement can be as simple as walking down the hallway, stretching in your chair, working in the garden, or moving along to a favorite song. It might mean joining a group fitness class, completing a few balance exercises, or taking five minutes to move before starting your day. It all counts!

Movement can also give us a much-needed break from whatever may be weighing on our minds. When we are worried, frustrated, tired, or simply having a tough day, a little activity can help us reset. It gives us something positive to focus on and may help us return to the rest of our day feeling a little clearer or more refreshed.

There is also something powerful about the feeling of accomplishment that comes from moving our bodies. Maybe you walked a little farther than you expected. Maybe you tried a new class. Maybe you completed ten minutes of activity on a day when you did not feel like doing anything at all. Those small wins matter.

Of course, exercise won't make every difficult feeling disappear, and that is not the goal. We all have days when we feel stressed, sad, frustrated, lonely, or unmotivated. Movement is simply one tool we can use to care for ourselves during those moments.

The key is finding an activity that feels enjoyable and realistic for you. Try to start with just five minutes and notice how you feel. You may feel calmer. You may have more energy. You may feel proud that you did something positive for yourself.

There is no perfect workout, and every day does not have to look the same. Some days you may feel ready for a full class or a longer walk. Other days, a few gentle stretches may be enough.

The next time you need a little boost, remember that movement may be one of the simplest places to start. Move in a way that feels good, make it something you enjoy, and give yourself credit for every step.

Register your senior living community for our nationwide Move Your Mood event on Tuesday, October 6. Join us as we strive for 5,000 senior workouts in a single day!

Have you ever stood up after sitting at your desk for a while and felt stiff? Or maybe you noticed your shoulders feel tight after a workout, or your hips don’t quite lie like they used to?

If so, you’re not alone.

Most people think mobility is important for athletes or yoga enthusiasts, but the truth is mobility plays an important role in every move we make- from exercising to carrying the groceries inside to simply getting out of bed in the morning.

The good news? It doesn’t take hours of stretching to improve your mobility, and the benefits can make a noticeable difference in how you feel inside and outside of the gym.

What Is Mobility?

Mobility is your body’s ability to move its joint through the whole range of motion with control. While flexibility does play a factor, mobility utilizes strength, stability, coordination, and joint health.

Think of mobility as your body’s ability to move better and comfortably, not just move farther.

Whether you’re reaching overhead to grab something off the shelf, squatting down to pick up a box, or exercising in NIFS wonderful fitness center, good mobility helps those movements feel smoother and more efficient.

Why Mobility Matters for Strength Training

Have you ever struggled to squat lower or press a weight overhead comfortably? Limited mobility may be part of that reason.

When joints can’t move properly, the body often compensates by changing movement patterns. Over time, this can make exercises feel more difficult and place extra stress on muscles and joints.

Improving mobility can help you:

• Move with better technique
• Perform exercises through an increased range of motion
• Improve balance and stability
• Generate more strength throughout each movement
• Feel more confident during your workouts
• Moving better often leads to training better.

Mobility Helps Cardio, Too

Mobility isn’t just for lifting weights.

Whether you enjoy walking, pickleball, running, cycling, hiking or kayaking, healthy joint movement allows your body to move more efficiently. Better mobility can improve posture, encourage a smoother movement, activate the core, and reduce the stiffness that often develops during repetitive movement.

When your body moves efficiently, exercise tends to feel more comfortable- and that’s something everyone can appreciate.

The Benefits Don’t Stop at the Gym

One of the greatest benefits of improving mobility is how much it impacts everyday life.

Simple activities become easier when your body moves well:

• Standing up from your chair
• Climbing stairs
• Carrying groceries
• Reaching overhead
• Playing with children or grandchildren
• Gardening or yard work

If you spend much of your workday sitting, your hips, shoulders, legs and back can gradually become stiff. Taking a few minutes each day to move these areas can help reduce discomfort and improve how you feel throughout the day.

Simple Ways to Improve Mobility

The best part about mobility is that you don’t need a long workout to see benefits.

Here are a few easy ways to get started:

• Spend 5-10 minutes warming up before exercise with dynamic movements
• Get up and move every hour during the workday
• Include a few mobility exercises after your workouts
• Strength train through a comfortable, full range of motion with good form
• Stay consistent- even a few minutes a day can make a difference

Like most healthy habits, small efforts consistently add up over time.

Try These Mobility Exercises

Not sure where to begin? A quick search for any of these movements will show you exactly how to do them- so don’t worry if you’re unfamiliar with the names. These movements are great for most people:

• Worlds Greatest Stretch
• Cat-Cow Stretch
• Hip Flexor Stretches (pigeon stretch and lunge stretch)
• Thoracic Spine Rotations
• Ankle Circles/Dorsiflexion and Calf Stretches
• Deep Squat Hold (using support if needed)
• Shoulder Pass Throughs with a resistance band, towel or even a PVC pipe

Perform each movement slowly, control deep breaths, and focus on quality rather than forcing a deeper stretch.

Keep Moving Well

Mobility is one of the most overlooked components of fitness and even life, yet it influences nearly every movement you make inside and outside the gym. Better mobility can improve your strength, make cardio feel more efficient, and help everyday activities become easier and more comfortable.

You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit. Investing a few minutes each day in improving your mobility can lead to better movement, greater confidence, and healthier, more active lifestyle.

Remember, moving more isn’t just about exercise- it’s about making everyday life feel better.

Have you ever set a big goal - such as exercising regularly, drinking 64oz of water daily, getting 8 hours of sleep daily, or improving your overall health? Only to find yourself struggling to stay consistent after a few days? This is very common. Many individuals start with good intentions for all their goals but often get overwhelmed by them, making it difficult to stay focused on achieving those goals. Although this can be very frustrating to accept sometimes, we must start with small commitments to create habits to crush long-term commitments. Most of the most successful actions start with short-term commitments. Instead of looking at these long-term goals maybe you simplify them to start by exercising 3 days a week instead of everyday, start by drinking at least 32 oz of water a day, aim for 6-8 hours of sleep every night, or maybe you focus on fitness before you focus on weight goals to improve your overall health. By focusing on manageable actions over a set period of time to become more consistent and build confidence, eventually these short-term commitments will become easier and more natural.

Make Big Goals Feel More Manageable

Many people struggle with long term commitments because they can feel overwhelmed. Rather than focusing on the end goal, ask yourself: why am I pursuing this goal? What am I trying to achieve? When do I want to accomplish it? Where should I start? Most people don’t fail because they lack motivation or desire; they struggle because the goal they are trying to achieve feels too big. Looking at the entire journey at once can make it feel impossible, causing individuals to lose momentum by focusing on the total distance instead of the next step. Shortening the timeframe on a long-term commitment can make the goal feel more achievable and closer to completion than the long-term commitment, which will reduce the pressure associated with the commitment.

Turn Small Commitments Into Lasting Habits

Short-term commitments are a great place to start when trying to make changes. They feel more manageable and less stressed. Committing to a change/goal for a week or month will feel less stressful and less intimidating than looking at the entire long-term goal. Short-term commitments will also decrease the possible mental barriers you may face. It also removes the excuses, and it's easier to convince yourself to take smaller steps rather than a long process drawn out every day. Short term commitments also help in shifting focus instead of looking at the total distance you are just focusing on the small term goals that are directly in front of you. These short-term victories increase self-confidence and create positive momentum that encourages long-lasting efforts.

Motivation for these long-term and short-term goals is what comes and goes. Building long-lasting habits is what keeps us consistent when motivation is low. The key isn’t always finding that motivation, it is creating routines that become second nature. By repeating this behavior, the brain connects the action with the reward more effectively so that over time that action will become easier to manage. Small actions repeatedly completed over time become automatic. Think about the tasks that you complete daily, brush your hair, get ready for the day, pack your lunch, and drive to work. You don’t debate whether you are going to complete these; you just complete them without thinking. These short-term and long-term commitments are developing the same way by repeating them daily to transition them into long-term commitments and habits.

Small actions through short-term commitments can lead to more meaningful change. As people consistently take small actions, they begin to identify with those behaviors, making those habits feel like second nature rather than something they are forced to do. Completing short-term habits also makes the larger goal feel more achievable due to building confidence.

Progress Over Perfection

Lastly, overcoming the all or nothing mindset. A lot of individuals get into the mindset that one missed workout and one unhealthy choice they must let go of their goal they view the small setback as something that they can’t succeed in. Individuals also need to keep in mind that progress is built through repetition not perfection no one follows a plan perfectly the matter is that your overall pattern of small commitments not a single missed day because the consistency overtime will be better than the perfection of something. If you make a mistake or miss a goal, focus on getting back on track rather than starting over.

Long-lasting habits aren’t built through overnight transformations. They are built through the tough days, small, intentional action of repetitive small term commitment. By focusing on short-term commitments, you reduce the overwhelming feeling, build confidence, and create a foundation of success. The next time you're tempted to make a drastic change, start small and only look at the step-in front of you and not the whole staircase. Commit to one healthy habit or action for a few weeks and see where it takes you may be surprised how powerful that short-term commitment can be.

Move Your Mood is a one-day program designed to highlight the powerful connection between physical activity and emotional well-being. The goal is simple: intentionally move throughout the day while discovering how different types of movement can positively impact your mood, energy, confidence, and connection with others. Every workout counts regardless of the activity or intensity, because movement does not have to be intense, complicated, or time-consuming to make a positive difference.

Whether you are brand-new to exercise, returning after a break, or already active most days, every bout of exercise on Tuesday, October 6 can support your community’s Move Your Mood goal and help NIFS reach our collective goal of 5,000 workouts nationwide. Every bout of exercise on any given day can help boost your mood, too!

Try one, or all, of these five simple workouts to keep moving and build momentum.

1. Take a Mood-Boosting Walk

Walking is one of the simplest ways to add movement to your day. Take a few laps around your community, walk outdoors with a friend, or follow a familiar indoor route. Start with five to ten minutes at a comfortable pace. As you feel more confident, gradually increase your time or add short periods of faster walking. You can make the experience even more enjoyable by listening to music, noticing your surroundings, or inviting a neighbor to join you.

2. Get Moving on a NuStep

NuStep equipment offers an approachable and effective workout option for people of many different fitness and ability levels. The supportive seated position and smooth stepping motion can make it especially attractive for someone who is new to exercise or unsure about where to begin.

It is also a great choice for regular exercisers who want to build endurance, increase resistance, or add variety to their routine.

Begin with five to ten minutes at a comfortable pace and resistance level. Focus on using both your arms and legs while maintaining steady breathing. You can gradually increase your time, pace, or resistance when you are ready.

3. Try a Group Fitness Class

Group fitness classes are a great way to add movement to your day while also connecting with others. Whether you choose strength, balance, cardio, yoga, or another class offered in your community, exercising with a group can make movement feel more enjoyable and help you stay motivated.

Choose a class that matches your interests and current ability level. Arrive a few minutes early, introduce yourself to the instructor, and ask about any modifications that may help you participate comfortably and safely.

Invite a friend to join you or try something new on your own. You may discover a favorite class, meet new people, and leave feeling more energized than when you arrived.

4. Move to Your Favorite Music

Choose a song that makes you feel good and move along with it. You can dance, march in place, tap your feet, sway from side to side, or perform the movements from a seated position. There is no correct routine to follow. The goal is simply to keep moving for the length of the song. For a longer workout, create a playlist with three to five favorite songs. Invite a friend or group of neighbors to join you and turn it into a fun social activity.

5. Stretch and Reset

Gentle stretching and mobility exercises can be a calming way to begin or end your day. Move slowly through a series of comfortable stretches, holding each one for approximately 15 to 30 seconds.

• Consider including:

• Shoulder rolls

• Overhead reaches

• Seated hamstring stretches

• Ankle circles

• Deep breathing

Avoid bouncing or forcing a stretch. Instead, focus on moving within a comfortable range and allowing your body time to relax.

Every Minute Matters

Your Move Your Mood workout does not need to look like anyone else’s. It may be five minutes on the NuStep, a walk with a friend, a seated strength class, or one favorite song played loud enough to make you move.

Choose activities that feel enjoyable, start where you are, celebrate each accomplishment, and remember that every movement is a step toward your goal.

Register your senior living community for our one-day event on Tuesday, October 6 as we strive for 5,000 resident workouts for mental health awareness!

Strength training, also known as resistance training, uses external resistance to improve physical function, build strength, and increase lean muscle mass. While many people recognize its role in building muscle, strength training also provides two often-overlooked benefits: increasing energy levels and helping prevent injuries.

Improving Energy

To understand how strength training improves energy, it's important to look at the role lean muscle mass plays in the body. Beyond helping you move, muscle is metabolically active tissue that requires energy (calories) to maintain. Because of this, muscle directly influences both your resting metabolic rate (RMR) and basal metabolic rate (BMR).

• Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): The minimum number of calories your body needs to perform daily functions, including low-effort activities. RMR accounts for up to 75% of the energy you burn throughout the day. The most accurate way to measure your RMR is through indirect calorimetry testing at a laboratory, although many fitness trackers can provide a general estimate.
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): The minimum amount of energy your body requires to support essential bodily functions such as breathing, circulation, and organ function.

How does strength training affect your energy?

As you build lean muscle through strength training, both your BMR and RMR increase. This means your body burns more calories even while you're at rest.

Higher metabolic rates can:

• Make it easier to reduce body fat.
• Support healthy weight management.
• Help sustain energy levels throughout the day.
• Increase the total amount of energy your body can use each day, giving you a greater capacity for daily activities.

Injury Prevention

In addition to improving energy, strength training plays a vital role in reducing the risk of injury. Building lean muscle and consistently performing resistance exercises helps your body become stronger, more stable, and better prepared for everyday movement.

Why is strength training important for injury prevention?

• Improved coordination: Strength training enhances the mind-body connection, allowing for smoother, more controlled movement during everyday activities.
• Increased bone density: Stronger bones can help reduce the risk of fractures and breaks.
• Natural body armor: Muscle acts as a form of shock absorption, helping protect your body from bumps, slips, and falls.
• Healthier joints, ligaments, and tendons: Building muscle around your joints reduces stress placed on them while strengthening the surrounding ligaments and tendons as they adapt to increased resistance.

Where to Start

If you are overweight, have a medical condition, or haven't exercised in a long time, talk with your primary care physician before beginning a strength training program.

If you're looking for guidance, speak with our staff about working with a personal trainer or joining one of our strength training classes.

If you'd rather start on your own, begin with simple bodyweight exercises such as:

• Squats
• Lunges
• Push-ups
• Crunches

Starting with these foundational movements can help you build strength, improve confidence, and establish a routine that supports both your energy levels and long-term health.

Summer is the perfect time to get outside, stay active, and work toward your fitness goals. But with longer days, warmer weather, and the pressure to stay in shape, many people end up doing more than their bodies can handle. Whether you're hitting the gym, training for a race, or enjoying outdoor activities, staying healthy means finding the right balance between exercise, nutrition, hydration, and recovery.

Stay Hydrated and Beat the Heat

One of the most important ways to stay healthy and active during the summer is to stay properly hydrated. When temperatures rise, your body loses more fluids through sweat, making it easier to become dehydrated. Drinking water consistently throughout the day—not just during your workout—helps regulate body temperature, supports muscle function, and keeps energy levels up. If you're participating in longer or more intense workouts, consider replenishing electrolytes as well.

It's also important to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion. Symptoms can include excessive sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, and muscle cramps. Ignoring these warning signs can lead to more serious heat-related illnesses. To reduce your risk, try exercising during cooler times of the day, such as early morning or evening, wear lightweight clothing, and take breaks when needed. Listening to your body is key to staying safe and performing your best during the summer months.

Keep Moving for Your Physical and Mental Health

Regular exercise remains one of the best ways to maintain both physical and mental health. Being active helps improve cardiovascular health, build and maintain muscle strength, increase endurance, and support a healthy weight. Exercise can also reduce stress, boost mood, and improve overall energy. During the summer, outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, swimming, or cycling can be great ways to stay active while enjoying the season.

Recovery Is Part of the Workout

Many people think working out every day or constantly increasing intensity will produce faster results, but that's not always true. Overtraining happens when your body doesn't have enough time to recover between workouts. Instead of getting stronger, you may notice constant soreness, lack of motivation, and even trouble sleeping.

Recovery is just as important as training because your muscles repair and grow stronger during that time. Taking a rest day or choosing a lighter workout doesn't mean you're losing progress—it helps you continue making it.

It's also important to make a habit of doing dynamic movements before your workout to help prepare your muscles for activity. After your workout, spend time doing static stretches to improve flexibility and help relieve soreness.

Focus on Progress, Not Comparison

Remember to leave your ego at the door. Trying to lift heavier weights than you're truly ready for or comparing yourself to others can increase your risk of injury. Instead, focus on proper form, choose weights that challenge you while allowing you to maintain good technique, and follow your own pace.

Fitness is about building long-term habits, not proving how much you can lift. Summer is meant to be enjoyed by staying hydrated, eating well, listening to your body, and making time for recovery. Consistency—not overdoing it—is what leads to lasting results and helps you stay strong all season long.

According to the CDC, one in four older adults falls every year, which results in 14 million falls each year in the US. There are many contributing factors that lead to a fall; sometimes it might be out of the person’s control, but knowing this staggering fact, it would be wise for all older adults to invest time in their health and fitness. My favorite part of exercise is that almost all movement is considered exercise, so if you are intentional about movement every day, you will see maintenance or improvement in your fitness. What is even better, is if you challenge yourself, even in small ways, you will see even more improvement. Today, I would like you to consider challenging yourself for better balance.

1. Walking! Holy smokes is walking underrated. And you might think to yourself “I walk all the time!” But are you really? Consider your typical 8 hour day, how many steps do you get? Adults 60 and older and in good physical health should aim for 6,000-8,000 steps/day. For someone with lower mobility, you should aim for 3,000-4,500 steps/day. Being upright and using your legs automatically engages you in balance exercise.
2. Seated Exercise. Wait a minute… I just said that walking was one of the best ways to work on balance. Yes, it is, but walking isn’t easy for everyone, every day. You might have neuropathy, back pain, or experienced falls already, so walking feels a little scary… If this is the case, engaging in seated exercise 3-5 times/week like seated marches, leg lifts, toe taps, seated crunches, etc. improves muscle strength and endurance which are vital for balance.
3. Specific Balance Exercises. Exercise that focus specifically on balance such as Tai Chi, Single Leg Stands, Heel to Toe Walking, Foam Balance Pad work, etc. challenge your balance so your body can practice reaction. Fitting in these types of exercises 2-3 times/week is ideal. Remember to start with exercises that are slightly challenging before progressing to more advanced work.
4. Strength Exercises. Building muscle is so important when it comes to your overall health, but especially when it comes to stabilizing the body. Without strong muscles, your body has a harder time of standing up straight, handling obstacles, and reacting. Utilizing dumbbells, resistance bands, or selectorized strength equipment (like what you find in a gym), and water resistance in the pool are all ways to increase strength!
5. Diet and hydration. Believe it or not but exercise isn’t the only piece to the puzzle when it comes to better balance. You must eat a balanced diet for level blood sugar, you must take proper medications to avoid interactions, and you must stay hydrated to avoid dizzy spells that accompany dehydration.