Shake off the Winter Blahs with a Little Extra Exercise

It’s been grey, icy and really, reallllly cold in northern Cincinnati throughout December and January. These dreary conditions make it so easy to get caught up in the winter doldrums and be less active.

But now’s the time to fight off those blahs and make sure you’re exercising. That’s because inactivity even for short periods can affect senior citizens more than younger people who don’t exercise, according to a recent study in the Journal of Physiology. Negative effects include the loss of muscle mass and changes in the nervous system that control muscle contractions.

Create a new exercise plan

The good news is that once you start being more physically active, you’ll notice improvements in just a few weeks. You’ll feel stronger. You’ll feel more energetic. And you may even feel up for more exercising!

Before starting any new activity, it’s a good idea to check with your healthcare provider first. As you create your exercise plan, consider the four types of exercise – endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. Many people focus on their favorite type of exercise, but doing them all provides more health benefits, reduces boredom and reduces the risk of injury.

Mix up your exercise routine with some of these ideas:

For specific exercises or additional ideas on how to stay active in the cold weather, visit Go4Life from the National Institute on Aging.

For more information

At the Christian Village at Mason, we’re dedicated to helping our residents stay healthy and happy. Be sure to visit our website or our social media at Facebook or Twitter for continued updates.

Renewal Fitness Center classes

At the Christian Village at Mason, we’re here to help shed the winter blahs. We invite our residents to try one of our classes at the Renewal Fitness Center:

• Simply Seated Exercise: T and TH from 10:30 to 11:10 a.m.
• Balance and Mobility: T and TH from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.
• Walk and Talk: TH from 11:15 a.m. to noon
• Brain Power: T at 11:15 a.m.
• 30-Minute Serenity: W from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
• Line Dance/Tone: M, W, F from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Stretch and Strengthen: M and F from 10:30 to 11:10 a.m.
• Short Circuit Cardio: M, W, F from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Learn more about our activities by reading each class description, and our Director of Wellness Erin Immell is always available to answer questions.