If you have been inspired by 74-year-old Joan MacDonald and her focus on never being too old to start a fitness routine, you will be pleased to hear with a little determination, anyone can start exercising over the age of 60 and you can look forward to feeling less tired, more confident and happier all round.
25th January 2022
Exercising can get you started on an amazing and rewarding journey to better health and an improved quality of life.
You may have to garner a little support to get started and you might find that exercising with a buddy helps to motivate you and get you going on days when you feel like you would rather stay at home.
The great news is there are now, so many free options that you can tap into in your local community, from park runs to trim trails or walking groups which meet regularly. You could try one or a few different groups, until you find something that you really like.
Using your local outdoor gym is another fantastic option.
Below, we talk about five pieces of outdoor gym equipment, how each piece is great for getting your fitness started, feeling better in yourself and keeping your body moving.
And the best part…they are all absolutely free to use!
There is never a bad time to begin a build up to fitness and the Arm and Pedal Bike is as easy as riding a bike!
Breathe in the fresh air, set your own pace and enjoy this gentle but effective cardiovascular exercise as you cycle your arms and legs in a forward or backwards motion.
Using the Arm and Pedal Bike will start to build strength in the muscles in your legs, arms, and core. This piece of outdoor gym equipment will improve your balance, flexibility and coordination. It is also low impact on your joints.
Recommended Beginner’s time on the Arm and Pedal Bike: 2 minutes
This exercise strengthens the oblique muscles that run along the sides and back of your abdomen, helping to create a more defined waist and supported back. It also gives you a little bit of a shoulder workout at the same time.
Perfect to use in any part of your workout, the Hip Twister is easy to use and is a great starting point for increasing the range of movement around your hips and waist. To use the Hip Twister, step onto the footplate and grip the handles, keeping your knees together gently, twist your body from side to side.
Recommended Beginner’s time on the Hip Twister: 2 minutes
The best part about getting started with a new fitness routine is the fun you will have.
The Air Skier is a fantastic piece of equipment which provides an enjoyable cardiovascular workout on an unusual and innovative piece of gym equipment.
The Air Skier promotes core strength and increases your flexibility. It targets muscles in the legs, core, hips and glutes. You can set your own pace and either gently or more vigorously swing side to side. This piece of equipment is great fun to use, whilst also being very low impact on your joints.
Recommended Beginner’s time on the Air Skier: 2 minutes
If you are looking for a workout that will exercise your brain as well as your body, you should definitely incorporate the T’ai Chi Spinners. They are easy-to-use as the wheels move independently, allowing your arms to work either clockwise or anticlockwise making them fantastic for mental agility.
The T’ai Chi Spinners are perfect for warming up and will improve your circulation as they have been designed to improve flexibility and coordination in your wrists, arms and shoulders, exercising muscles in all these areas as well as giving your brain a workout. This piece of equipment also allows 2 people to work out at once, so you can chat with a friend while you exercise.
Recommended Beginner’s time on the T’ai Chi Spinners: 2 minutes
All of the Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gyms are built with you in mind. Every design is ergonomic for maximum comfort and efficiency and have a subtle colourway to blend in with the natural surroundings. People powered and sustainable – even the grass mats return to nature whilst still providing great grip – the whole Fresh Air Fitness range is good for the environment and good for you!
If you fancy giving your local outdoor gym a go, try our outdoor gym locator and find the one nearest to you! www.freshairfitness.co.uk/site-installations
Important note: Always consult your GP before starting any new exercise regime.
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