Wellness Activities for Older Adults Around Woodbury, NJ
According to a recent study conducted by Rush University Medical Center, seniors can delay the onset of dementia by engaging in simple and enjoyable social activities.
This research highlights the importance of adopting a holistic approach to your health in your senior years, particularly if you plan an active and fulfilling retirement in the friendly community of Woodbury, New Jersey. Read on as we share some of the best wellness activities that will support your mental, physical, and emotional health.
Join a Group Walk
Walking is an ideal exercise because it requires no special techniques or training, and it can be adapted to suit all levels of fitness. In Woodbury, NJ, take advantage of the surrounding nature by heading to scenic parks for a group walk, allowing you to take in the stunning landscape as you work your heart and muscles.
If you want to build muscle, try a hike with a few gentle inclines. However, if you have mobility problems, it's easy to find some flat pathways that you can stroll at a more leisurely pace.
If you join a group of seniors, you can use a regular nature walk as a chance to socialize. You can sign up together with a friend or go on your own as an opportunity to connect with new people. Social activities like these are excellent for protecting your mental health as you get older, as seniors are more at risk of isolation and loneliness.
Senior Fitness in NJ: Chair Yoga
The stretching movements in yoga are excellent for flexibility and muscle strength. However, some of the balancing moves in yoga can prove a challenge as you age, since they put more strain on the joints.
Fortunately, yoga is easily adapted for seniors in the form of chair yoga. In a seated position, you'll follow gentle movements guided by an instructor. These movements will help improve your circulation and posture.
Consistent yoga practice can help reduce stiffness and tension in the body, making it therapeutic in your later years. Join a group chair yoga class in your senior living community to get started, and bring along a friend to keep each other accountable.
Aging Engagement: Try Community Gardening
Gardening is great for wellness and will support your physical and mental health in your senior years.
A shared community garden offers the added benefit of being a space where you can relax, interact with other seniors, and form lasting friendships. You can talk through ideas and share gardening tips. Plus, there is a satisfying sense of accomplishment when you start to see the creation you have made begin to bloom.
If you want to provide an added benefit to your health, consider building a vegetable or herb garden, which gives you easy access to fresh, organic food.
Planting flowers and shrubs helps work the muscles and improves your balance and flexibility. If you are concerned about the bending involved in gardening, you can purchase gadgets that enable you to reach without straining your joints or back.
Healthy Aging Resources: Brain Games and Puzzles
Did you know that completing puzzles and games can keep your brain sharp? Protecting your cognitive health is crucial as you age, because seniors are at risk of age-related decline.
Here are some game ideas to add to your weekly routine:
- Crosswords and Sudoku
- Chess
- Board games
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Card games
Games like these improve memory and concentration, and they can also help your mind stay in the present moment. If you are in a senior living community like ours at Woodbury Mews, you'll find a weekly calendar of social events that will include games and quiz events.
These are perfect if you want to socialise and also keep your brain active.
Emotional Wellness: Guided Meditation Sessions
Wellness encompasses not only your physical health but also your emotional well-being.
Daily stressors and longer-term concerns can take a toll on the mind and affect your mental health. However, meditation is a proven way to calm the mind, steady the heart rate, and boost your emotional health.
Join a guided session where an instructor can explain the techniques, as this will help you get the most out of meditation. They will guide you through techniques to sit comfortably, focus on your breathing, and begin to release tension in both mind and body.
Regular meditation can help you develop a more positive outlook. It may even improve your sleep, providing long-term benefits for your mental and physical health.
Local Programs for Seniors: Arts and Crafts Workshops
Creative outlets can support both your emotional well-being and fine motor skills. Many people find arts and crafts activities to be therapeutic and an excellent form of stress relief. Here are some ideas you can try:
- Painting workshop
- Sketching
- Crafts
- Clay modelling
Arts and crafts workshops can also be fun social activities, and you'll get to bond with other seniors. It's also an opportunity to make something for your senior living community, such as the decorations for an upcoming social event.
Book Clubs
If you want a quieter and more low-key activity that also supports your well-being, sign up for a local book club in Woodbury or within your senior living community.
Whether you choose fiction, memoirs, or specialist topics, it's a chance to socialize with others in your community and spark some lively debate. Reading is an excellent activity for your well-being, as it helps exercise your cognitive skills while also serving as a relaxing pastime that allows you to unwind.
A book club is a wise idea because it will keep you accountable with your reading routine, which will give you a sense of accomplishment when you look back on the year and see how many new and interesting books you have read.
The Best Wellness Activities for Seniors
Enjoying retirement means taking charge of your health. Try these wellness activities to help keep you emotionally and physically strong, and use them as an opportunity to connect with other seniors.
At Woodbury Mews, wellness shapes everything we do, from the nutritious food we offer to the calming landscaped gardens and wealth of onsite activities. To find out if our pet-friendly community is the right retirement destination for you, schedule a tour.