Keeping fit and healthy in your golden years can be a challenge but there are plenty of wellness and exercise activities for people around Mid Norfolk.
There’s plenty of talk out there about how you need to keep fit and active to make the most of life well into old age, but as joints get creaky and energy dips it can be tricky to find something enjoyable enough to keep you both moving and motivated.
Keep your health and wellness up with some of these great senior-friendly exercise spots in and around the Mid Norfolk area, from a gentle game of bowls to some more energetic aqua-aerobics, there’s plenty to tempt people of all ages and activity levels.
KWC Yoga in Barnham Broom is based in the Painted Barn started by Katrina who began with no gymnastics or dance background herself. Yoga teaches us patience, how to find our breath, and how to be completely present; with consistent practice we can learn how to productively focus our energy, better manage stress, and to use the principles of yoga on our mats and in our daily lives. Katrina also offers online Yoga classes so you can take things at your own pace and find what works best for you.
Golf is the perfect game for older men and women to keep their fitness up without being too over-exerting. Playing golf engages your brain and improves strength and balance. It takes a lot of mental work and strategy to plot the course to hit a tiny ball into a cup that is hundreds of feet away. It also hones attention, memory and learning as you improve your skills.
Encouraging research shows that golfing offers strength and balance benefits for older players. In a study comparing golfers to non-golfers, the players came out ahead with better muscular strength, power, endurance, balance, and flexibility. Any form of exercise is shown to lift your spirits and relieve stress.
Dereham Leisure Centre has a range of facilities. Located in the heart of Dereham they have a state-of-the-art gym, group classes, a 25m swimming pool and sports hall. So whether you are just starting out, or exercise regularly, you can find everything you need. There are plenty of accessible features and spaces to allow everyone to make the fullest use of the facilities, they are dedicated to developing and improving the facilities to be accessible to everyone in the community.
Bowls Clubs in Norfolk have always been very popular. Bowls are designed to travel a curved path because of a weight bias which was originally produced by inserting weights in one side of the bowl. This is no longer permitted by the rules and bias is now produced entirely by the shape of the bowl. As a very popular, inexpensive sport, it attracts the sporting attentions of many thousands in the country.
Norfolk has excellent venues for both types of game, with numerous club facilities for the enthusiast to enjoy. Playing bowls is recommended by health professionals, especially for older individuals, due to its ability to enhance fitness, coordination, skill development, self-esteem, and confidence.
From keeping fit to exercising mindfulness or just getting a bit of mental stimulation, these kinds of exercises and wellness activities in and around Mid Norfolk are a great way to get seniors out and about with a goal in mind. Even the smallest amounts of physical activity are invaluable in keeping brains and bodies fit and healthy, so don’t assume you need to force a senior citizen into some kind of aerobics class just to get them moving; there are plenty of opportunities to get active without getting sweaty!