Great Workouts for the Over-40 Crowd
By Sara Butler
Hitting 40 is a game changer. Even if you’ve been working out for years, once you hit 40, things begin to change. You may find you can’t handle the workouts you used to, both physically and mentally. Well, don’t despair! There is exercise glee to be found after 40. Maintain a regular workout routine as you get older with one of these great exercises.
Zumba Toning
If you want to reap the rewards of working out without actually feeling like you’re working out, then Zumba may be the exercise for you! Zumba is a dance-based workout; Zumba toning is similar but puts more emphasis on toning and shaping different muscle groups through dance and movement.
What’s great about Zumba is that it helps to take the thought process out of your exercise routine. You simply follow along with the instructor’s directions and boom! Workout completed. You can easily get in the zone and forget about everything else for an hour or so as you get fit.
Strength training is important after turning 40 because it helps to battle bone loss as well as decrease symptoms associated with arthritis.
Barre
If you haven’t heard of barre, then you’re missing out. Barre couples classic ballet moves with strength training. If you’re not a dancer, then there’s no need to worry. It only uses the principles of ballet – you won’t be doing anything too crazy.
What’s great about barre is that it’s low-impact and no-impact. It’s great for people who have problems with their joints and it will help to keep you flexible and strong in the process. It helps to build muscle endurance, too, which is something that can be more difficult as you age.
Spinning
If you’re looking for a full-body workout and running is out of the picture, then you can’t go wrong with spinning. Spin classes combine sequences of low and high resistance at varied speeds for a cardio interval workout that will get you sweating. It’s great for your heart and allows you to burn more calories in a shorter amount of time than other exercises.
The great thing about spinning is that it’s something even newcomers can feel comfortable trying. That’s because you control the resistance level and intensity of the class. If it becomes too much and you’re not ready to go all out just yet, just crank down the intensity.
Hitting 40 doesn't have to slow you down, but it may mean you have to look for new and different ways to get your body moving!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex.