Beach Ball Exercises for Seniors
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular physical activity can help prevent or delay many of the physical problems that are often associated with growing older. That’s why it recommends that adults over the age of 65 aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise every week. Of course, your activity level should always be determined by your physical abilities. If you’re considering starting a new exercise plan, be sure to discuss the idea with your doctor first.
Beach ball exercises for seniors can be a great choice. Beach balls are vibrant and fun, which makes them excellent for boosting the mood. They’re also light and soft, which makes them easy to handle and unlikely to cause injury. With a little creativity, you can use a beach ball for many different exercises.
Beach Ball Fitball
It may be because you enjoy a surprise. It may be because you don’t want to have to make a decision. Or, it may be a way to keep an entire group united and participating in a workout. Whatever your reason for using a beach ball fitball, you’re sure to work up a sweat. How does it work? First, you have to create your beach ball fitball. This task only needs to be completed once. Using a permanent marker, write a different exercise on each colored panel of the inflated beach ball.
Play music or count as you toss the beach ball fitball. If you’re alone, toss the ball in the air. If you’re part of a group, toss it among yourselves. When time is up, check the panel under your right thumb. If you haven’t already, complete that exercise. If the exercise has already been done this session, toss the ball again. Continue until time is up or the desired number of exercises have been completed.
Beach Ball Volleyball
Real volleyballs are quite hard. Setting, bumping, or spiking one can be uncomfortable against older joints. It can also damage elderly skin, which tends to be thinner and more prone to bruising and splitting. Substituting a beach ball for a volleyball allows seniors to enjoy the fun without worry. Whether it’s played with teams standing or seated in rows of chairs placed on either side of the net, beach ball volleyball can be a blast.
Beach Ball Soccer
Falls are always a concern for older adults, so exercises that strengthen one’s sense of balance are vital. Soccer drills and scrimmages offer an entertaining way to build lower body strength and balance. Since using cleats and a traditional soccer ball might lead to bruises, a beach ball provides a great alternative. For an extra challenge, consider using an oversized beach ball.
Beach Ball Hockey
Would you like a game that works the muscles in your arms and challenges your hand-eye coordination? Grab some friends, a beach ball, and some plastic hockey sticks. Place chairs in two rows that are facing each other. Place a goal at either end. Use the beach ball as the hockey puck, and pass it between the players to score. There are endless variations to the rules, so feel free to experiment.