Suit Up for a Swim!
Remember the fun of a day at the pool or beach? Well, grab your suit and towel and jump in because the water truly is fine! Not only will a dip in the pool bring back wonderful memories, but swimming is great exercise! Seniors should absolutely follow Dory’s instructions. (Dory is the happy fish voiced by everyone’s favorite talk show host, Ellen Degeneres in the popular movie Finding Nemo). Dory encourages Nemo to “just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” It’s excellent advice both literally and figuratively and seniors should take that advice literally. (Side note for Ellen fans, check out the crazy antics on her own channel Ellentube).
Fortunately, we have a beautiful aquatics center here at Eastcastle Place so you and your friends can make swimming part of your regular exercise routine. We even open the pool up for classes for the greater Eastside community since there aren’t very many aquatic centers in the area.
Swimming is not only fun, it’s thought to be the BEST exercise for seniors. According to this article in Livescience, swimming actually prevents falls, which are the biggest danger for seniors. The article points to a study done in Australia which looked at 1,700 men age 70 and older; the Australian researchers found that the men who swam regularly were 33% less likely to fall.
“Unlike [with] land-based sports, swimmers are required to create their own base of support and at the same time, to produce a coordinated movement of both upper and lower extremities,” said study author Dafna Merom, an associate professor of physical activity and health at the University of Western Sydney in Australia.
But there’s more. In this article from Silver Sneakers, Victoria Shin, M.D., a cardiologist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in California, says “Getting in the pool is a great way to increase your cardiovascular fitness while also strengthening your muscles.”
But what if you get bored with lap swimming and don’t want to get your hair wet? No worries. A water aerobics class, simply walking through the water, even playing Marco Polo with the grandkids are all beneficial both physically and mentally. Since swimming puts less stress on bones and joints than other forms of exercise, it’s perfect for anyone suffering from osteoporosis or arthritis.
Grab your suit, your bathing cap and most importantly, your friends and meet at Eastcastle Place’s state-of-the-art aquatics center for exercise and fun!