SWAT Fitness Tips for Senior Fitness by Ron Holland

Published: 01.15.2008

Source: Ron Holland, SWAT Fitness

SENIOR OLYMPICS; For more information about Tucson Senior Olympics events, call 791-3244.
FITNESS TIPS: Getting - or staying - fit in your senior years can help you stay young.
: "The easiest way to start is to walk," said Ron Holland, owner of SWAT Fitness in Tucson.
: Here are other exercises Holland recommends for seniors:

• Lift weights with soup cans or empty milk jugs filled with water to build lean muscle.

• Do squats sitting in a hard, stable chair just enough to touch the seat and then standing up to work glutes.

• Do leg extensions with weights tied around ankles while sitting watching TV or reading a book.

• Water aerobics is a great workout for those with joint or back pain.

Start slowly and work up to more challenging activities, especially when moving out of a sedentary lifestyle, Holland said.; Inspire older loved ones to get active

• Remind them the more active they are, the better their health will be and the more likely they will remain independent as they age.

• Bring grandchildren over to play. When they realize what it takes to keep up with kids, they might be motivated to become active.

• Enlist the help of active friends or family. Exercising is a great way to socialize and it makes it more fun to do it together. "Doing it as a family unit would be very encouraging."