Active Games And Sports
Audacious seniors get off their butts and stay active.
Regardless of your age, interests, or abilities, you can enjoy entertainment that will make you laugh, lose track of time, or feel like a silly kid at heart. And many activities cost little or no money. According to one study, four of the five main activities that older people most often report as their favorite are very active in nature. These include walking and jogging, gardening and yard work, playing sports and other physical activities. But fun takes many forms.
Check out the list below for inspiration. and find out why games and sports are so important for audacious seniors. This gives you the opportunity to do some exercise, improve your hand-eye coordination, and gain a sense of control over the physical world.
All of this can be very enjoyable, especially if you can overcome obstacles or compete with other people in a friendly way. Dancing to the beat of the music can connect your body to exhilarating and healing rhythms. Singing folk songs (even bad ones) in front of other people can help you enjoy the humor of your endeavors and not take yourself too seriously. And other activities, such as participating in a parody or participating in a cabaret program, may remind you of how fun it is to tell stories in new or creative ways.
Communication can be an effective way to add more fun to your life. This is especially true if you can reminisce about the past or talk about other things that interest you. In fact, a good conversation can improve your mood and outlook more than anything on this list, especially when you're having a good time.
So feel free to attend other people's parties or join clubs. Also, consider planning some of your own events.
Board and card games provide a great way to communicate and benefit from the joyful challenges of friendly competition. Puzzles can help you improve your thinking skills and give you a sense of progress and achievement. Like humans, animals need entertainment.
So playing with them can be mutually beneficial. Plus, even if you don't have pets, it's easy to find animals to interact with. For example, many animal shelters host seniors who want to keep an eye on dogs, cats, or other animals.
As long as the weather is nice, being outdoors can do wonders for your mood. After all, the natural world is filled with pleasant sights, sounds, smells, and other sensual pleasures. They make you feel like an explorer or connected to something greater than yourself.
These creative activities are ideal for people of all ages and are often extraordinary activities for seniors. Learning is always more fun when it's something you're doing for her own good. Completely new possibilities open up. So follow your curiosity and your impulses. Learning something new is good at any age.
There are many great options, especially when you are gathering a small group of people to share experiences. You may not be a child, but that doesn't mean you can't go on a journey for laughter, excitement, exploration, and communication. Scientific research continues to show that fun activities can have several important benefits. Do you want to preserve your memory and optimize your ability to learn new things? Playing the game regularly can improve your creativity and mental acuity.
Many pensioners are lonely. In fact, on average, older people without spouses or partners spend about 10 hours a day alone. But entertainment can allow older people to make new friends or improve existing relationships. Things like laughter and friendly rivalry are known to build harmony, trust, empathy, and intimacy between people who experience them together.
Do you like how you feel when you have a brighter outlook on life and your sense of time fades into the background? Activities you enjoy can increase your optimism, multiply moments of joy, and reduce stress. It can also help prevent depression. Who doesn't want to feel younger and more energized?
Creating many fun moments in your life can be a great way to boost your immune system, reduce your risk of illness, and minimize the pain you may already be experiencing. Play should be an important part of everyone's life. We might all be able to use more joyful experiences. This is who we are, no matter our age. Just do it.
It this edition we will take a look at Active games and sports. In subsequent editions we will explore the following categories:
Arts and crafts
Animal interactions
Dancing, karaoke, and other performance arts
Games and puzzles
Learning
Outdoor Pastimes
Outings and Excursions
Social gatherings
Outings and Excursions
Active games and sports
This gives you the opportunity to do some exercise, improve your hand-eye coordination, and gain a sense of control over the physical world. All of this is very enjoyable, especially if you can overcome obstacles or compete with others in a friendly way.
Here are some ideas for Active games and sports:
Cycling
Cycling offers the same benefits as running; however, it is easier on the joints. Again, you should consult your doctor before starting this sport. You have to give consideration to falling. Be audacious, but be safe. You also need to make sure you are using the proper equipment to avoid overexertion and injury. I fell off my bike a few years ago and it took weeks for my knee to heel. I now always wear protective head gear and knee pads.
As with running, you may find a cycling club nearby where you can make new friends to help you progress in this discipline. Cycling is also a good option when you need to travel around town. As long as you make sure you don't get overwhelmed, you can incorporate exercise into your routine.
Golf
I was never a golf fan but it is “the game” for the 50 and over crowd. Time in the sun, a couple of beers. Life is good. Golf offers a relatively gentle workout and is also a great exercise for your mind, because it requires a lot of planning, memorization and coordination. It give you a reason to spend the afternoon with your friends.
You will also walk a lot from point to point, which will also provide calm but essential cardio. If you enjoy golf but cannot travel that distance, most golf courses offer motorized golf carts. But carrying golf clubs will strengthen your muscles. Consider competing in golf tournaments and golf charity events. These tournaments are also great socialization opportunities. Show the young people on the greens what experience means.
Miniature golf
Mini Golf, also known as Mini Golf, Mini Putting, Dummy Golf, Crazy Golf or Putting, is a branch of golf that focuses solely on the putting aspect of its parent game. The goal of the game is to score as few points as possible. Played on a course consisting of many holes (usually multiples of 9), it is similar to its parent but is characterized by a shorter length (usually within 10 yards from tee to cup). The game uses artificially placed surfaces (such as carpet, artificial turf, or concrete), and geometric placement often requires unconventional placement lines such as shore kicks, as well as artificial obstacles such as tunnels, pipes, ramps, moving obstacles such as windmills and concrete, metal or Fiberglass wall. While Mini Golf retains many of these features, but doesn't use props or obstacles, it's just a miniature version of the main game.
I have never play golf, but I love min golf. It is fun to get a group of friends together, play a round of golf and have a few drinks, have dinner or lunch.
Pool
Many people enjoy playing billiards as it is a great way to improve your skills or just hang out with friends. However, playing billiards is more than you think, and we don't just mean technique. Playing billiards is really good for health. While you may not have thought about this aspect of the game before, you can do your body and mind a favor the next time you get a signal.
Most people don't consider playing billiards to be hard work, and in most cases you probably won't get out of breath while playing. However, this does not mean that your movements do not burn calories. In fact, the average player will easily walk about a mile in one game of pool. It may not sound like much, but unlike sitting on the couch in front of the TV, it is much more.
Trying to perfect your break or find the perfect angle to strike without missing the eight requires a lot of concentration. Pretty much everything you do at the pool table (other than chatting with friends) requires serious attention. The ability to pay attention to small details and focus on the task at hand, blocking external stimuli, is important for everyone.
Playing billiards regularly can help you develop these skills, even when you're not at the table. Just as billiards can help you focus, playing it can also help you improve your critical thinking skills at the table and in life. For example, imagining a difficult pot shot or learning how to slice properly requires logical, step-by-step thinking. Drinking beer while playing pool with friends helps older men stay active, as it's a sign of healthy social interaction, and fights the aging process, as older pool players still need to use their muscles, according to a recent study from the University of Copenhagen.
When playing billiards, you will have to stretch more, you have to bend over the table top in order to reach the cue ball at the right angle, especially when difficult hits are required. Sometimes you will have to stand on one leg, which will improve your stability.
Regular snooker and billiards players often have sharper minds, as the game requires you to do mental calculations and evaluations, such as basic physics and geometry, as you play. Since hand-eye coordination is a critical factor for winning the game of billiards, your hands will become dexterous and quick, and will be able to perform small and small tasks. Playing billiards and billiards is often a family affair, as anyone can play it, regardless of gender and age.
As a billiards player, you will benefit from a tonic effect on the muscles in your legs, back, and hips, as you will be constantly flexing and stretching as you play. The mental stimulation you get while playing billiards is rich and varied, as each broken rack has an infinite number of options. These mockups will always test your visualization, imagination and creative problem solving skills.
Water Sports
In addition to swimming, many sports can be played in the pool. Water sports can help with a number of medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. Water sports are some of the best sports for seniors as water provides resistance to strengthen muscles, but it is also a low impact sport.
There are many water sports with competitions specifically for seniors. Some of these sports include swimming, water polo and even synchronized swimming! This is definitely one of the best exercises for seniors.
If you are interested in water sports, go to the local pool and find out about courses and team sports available to you. And if you don't have swimming experience, don't despair! You just need to find an instructor to train beginners and soon you will notice improvements in your work.
Water sports and games are not just for in the pool. America has incredible lakes, streams and rivers.
Some of my favorite pool activities are:
- Aerobic exercise
- Pool volleyball
- Floating – yes floating
- Noodle races
- Bumper cars – but with air mattresses
- Here is a crazy one. Pool poker. There are water proof cards made specifically for this. There are cheap floating card takes and floating chips.
- Tug of war – this one never gets old. Play it in the pool or across the pool.
Shuffleboard
This game can be played indoors or outdoors and is a great option for seniors. The basic rules can be learned in minutes and are a great option for seniors.
Shuffleboard offers low impact exercise as well as a psychological aspect. Seniors can learn strategies and constantly improve the game for an even bigger challenge. Get good at this game and you can play for drinks on your next cruise.
Bocce
The physical aspects of the bocce ball can be simplified with ramps or adapters so that everyone can enjoy the game. There is also a mental aspect to the game of petanque that many seniors enjoy as they learn more about the game and how to strategize to score points. It can be played in a team, so it has a great social aspect.
Bocce ball has evolved for thousands of years. Bocce is one of the oldest games on the lawn or backyard. It can be played by people of all ages and on a wide variety of surfaces. A large area is needed to make the game more challenging. However, the game is just as interesting without the field. Games are played on a total set point, usually 12, 15 or 21. Divide the players into two teams of one, two or four players each. A coin toss decides who plays first.
The next team then throws the ball in an attempt to approach the first team. Remember: You can increase your score by dropping the opponent's ball from Pallino. End the frame after all eight balls have been thrown and scored. Play as many games as needed until one of the teams has a total of 16 points.
I like to play this early in the morning, but later afternoon is best. The team that brings the best wine usually wins, or not.
Pickle ball
Pickleball is a mixture of badminton, table tennis and tennis and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, especially the elderly. This is ineffective, and the appearance of the team helps the elderly to establish friendships.
Any tennis or badminton court can be transformed into a playing field, all you need is a racket and a ball. The ball is similar to a wyfling ball and there are different versions for indoor and outdoor. There are also many different types of paddles for each skill level. If you want to have a fun afternoon outdoor-backyard party, organize it around a game of pickleball. Your friends would love to get an invitation to “An afternoon of pickleball, indica and the best burgers on the planet.”
Tennis
This is a great sport for seniors. Tennis can be traced back to northern France in the 12th century, although it bears little resemblance to the sport as we know it today. Before the invention of the racket, players used to clap their hands! Grass tennis as we know it originated in the mid-1800s in Britain. However, the name "tennis" comes from the French "tenez", which means "to receive" or "to take".
The benefits of tennis for seniors are numerous. Tennis improves a player's upper body strength and reduces body fat percentage. Low body fat can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attacks.
Vigorous exercise also promotes lung and heart health. When you exercise regularly, the volume of the heart increases, which means that more blood can be pumped through the body. All of these positive effects work hand in hand to make the body healthier overall. Another benefit of tennis (or any other agility-improving exercise) is that it can help prevent slips and falls.
Both experienced and novice tennis players should follow their own pace as they mature. Don't overdo it - after all, one of the benefits of tennis should be great fun! If someone overloads themselves, they are much more likely to get hurt.
Tennis doesn't just improve physical fitness. It also provided some positive mental health changes. Studies have shown that the psychological benefits of tennis include preventing memory loss. In addition, some studies even suggest that regular active play may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's in the future. You will find a lot of tennis players on the tennis court that are in the 70+ age bracket.
Badminton
Unlike other sports with long running periods, rallies in badminton are fast. Hitting the bird forward and backward can be tedious as it requires quick and accurate sprints back and forth, but eventually someone will miss the bird and you will have a short cooldown while the teams prepare to start the next serve. This combination of high-intensity exercise, followed by a short break, ensures that your heart rate remains high, but gives you time to catch your breath without even noticing how hard you are working.
It's great for burning fat, and an hour of competitive badminton can burn up to 500 calories per hour (more than running).
Ping Pong
There is a reason that Ping Pong is one of the most popular sports in China. This game requires a lot of coordination and agility. Ping Pong mixes well with beer drinking. I am not a beer drinker but I let my friends drink their beer and I smoke a bowl of “Stoners Choice” cannabis. This is one of my favorite brands. You can play in doubles, singles.
Frisbee
Sometimes called disc golf, Frisbee in fun for all ages.
On January 23, 1957, Wham-O toy company cars released the first batch of their aerodynamic plastic rims, now known to millions of fans around the world as the Frisbee. Frisbee history began in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where William Frisbee opened the Frisbie Pie Company in 1871.
Students at a nearby university threw empty pie tins at each other and shouted "Frisbee!" As a "flying saucer", it can fly farther and more accurately than a pie tin. After parting ways with Francioni, Morrison built an improved model in 1955 and sold it as a "Pluto Platter" to the new toy company Wham-O in an attempt to capitalize on public awareness of space and UFOs ( UFO fascination profits.
In 1958, a year after the toy was first released, Wham-O, the company behind such successful products as the hula hoop, super ball and water swing, changed its name to Frisbee, misnaming the historic confectionary company's name as Frisbee. Company designer Ed Headrick patented the design of the modern Frisbee in December 1967, adding a raised ridge, called a ring, to the surface of the disc to stabilize flight. Actively promoting Frisbee as a new sport, Wham-O sold over 100 million of its famous toy in 1977.
We often forget the Frisbee as a toy, something young people do at the beach and at parks. But we audacious seniors own the Frisbee.
Volleyball (including with a beach ball or balloon)
First, it's a fun way to burn calories. You can burn up to 585 calories in 45 minutes of volleyball. Volleyball also improves muscle strength and tone. The activities required to play volleyball strengthen the upper body, arms, shoulders, glutes, abs, and calves. In addition, volleyball can improve hand-eye coordination, reflexes and balance.
Last but not least, volleyball teaches teamwork and communication and is a great social activity. Like any other sport, there is a risk of injury when playing volleyball. Injuries common in volleyball can be divided into two categories: overuse injuries and traumatic injuries. Some overuse injuries include rotator cuff tendonitis, elbow or wrist tendinitis, patellar or Achilles tendon tendinitis, and low back pain. Traumatic injuries include shoulder dislocation or separation, rotator cuff tears, wrist sprains, finger fractures, Achilles tendon tears, ligament injuries, knee cartilage tear, ankle sprains, muscle sprains and sprains, and disc herniation. You have to be in pretty good shape to play beach volleyball. Try walking in the sand to remind you how hard it is before signing up for beach volleyball.
Horseshoes
Who knew there were actually rules for horeshoes. General rules are that adult men pitch shoes from 37 feet (11.3 meters), and women, kids and senior citizens pitch from the 27-foot (8.2-meter) line; kids younger than 9 can pitch from a 20-foot (6.1-meter) distance. The top 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of soil or sand in your pit should be loose and level [source: NHPA ].
If you love playing horseshoes, then you are in luck! This popular backyard past has many practical advantages that make it a worthwhile pursuit in your spare time. There are health benefits to horseshoes. Horseshoes require you to bring some of your close friends or family members with you to play. Celebrate with a teammate when you hear the sweet sound of metal on metal, or chat in friendly competition on a beautiful summer day.
Engagement and social activity are side benefits of playing horseshoes. Not everyone has the quick reflexes and split-second decision-making skills required for the most intense team sports. But even the most clumsy can have fun playing horseshoes.
Unless you're a child prodigy, you probably won't have much success on your first few tries. Pitching requires a lot more skill than most people realize, and there are plenty of little tricks for you to discover.
Stick with it, you will find that your game will improve with patience. Whether you're playing on a sandy beach or in a grassy yard, horseshoes are almost always played to the side. So spending time in nature and sunbathing provides the vitamin D needed for cell growth and improved immune function.
Horseshoes will not replace your regular cardio workout. But just because it's an enjoyable game, doesn't mean it can't make your heart beat faster. It requires standing, walking up and down the field, and throwing horseshoes. Thus, it is an ideal recreational sport that can be played together by several generations.
To play horseshoes well, you need to learn how to focus. It's easy to get lost in anxious thoughts and forget the present moment, so playing with horseshoes can really help you live in the moment. Focus on throws and releases, making small adjustments based on previous throws.
This will improve your horseshoe game, but it will also help you stay focused in other areas of your life. Low-impact exercises like horseshoes can help older adults maintain mobility as they age. You don't get into crazy yoga poses, but you bend over to pick up the horseshoe and use your hips, and you have to let go of the target.
Exercise, socializing, and sunshine have been proven to improve mood and make life happier and more fulfilling. Horseshoes offer it all, which is why it's a common game in many older communities around the country.
Exercise also produces endorphins, which are the pleasure neurotransmitters of the brain. The increased production of endorphins reduces stress levels.
You can't just throw a horseshoe on a metal rod and hope for great success. To really improve, you need to practice with different grips on different parts of the shoe. Find out what weight suits you best, think critically about the game!
Indoor bowling
Bowling can provide light exercise, improve hand-eye coordination, and foster camaraderie among your teammates among those in your care. The best part is that you can set up an indoor bowling alley at your facility, or take your seniors on a group outing to challenge rivals on local lanes. A few tips to keep in mind when bowling: Watch the weight of the ball your seniors use - the lighter the better. Those with an extra finger grip are great for comfortable handling and less effort. Also, be careful with the lane itself - it is covered in oil and can be very slippery. Stay behind the foul line to avoid a potentially dangerous fall.
Wii Bowling
Wii games are not just for kids. This list of the top 10 Wii games for seniors offers you a fun way to stay active at home and have fun with your friends and family. Games such as Wii Golf and Wii Bowling allow these games to be played right at home, which can help older people with mobility problems enjoy favorite moments from the past or discover new ones.
If mobility issues are keeping you from getting to links or bowling, Wii games for seniors like golf and bowling offer a gaming experience from the comfort of your home. Wii dance games for seniors are not only a fun sport, they also reduce stress, improve visual recognition, improve decision-making skills, and reduce the risk of dementia. With a simpler interface and the ability to keep players moving, Wii games have become popular entertainment across generations in private homes and a staple of event calendars in retirement and long-term care centers. Nintendo Wii offers everyone, young and old, a fun way to become more active and healthy.
Wii offers unique gaming experiences to help you smile and stay healthy. Seniors are discovering the joys of Wii gaming as a way to stay active, exercise their brains, and connect with their grandchildren.
You can play tennis, baseball, golf and bowling in your living room with the motion-sensing Wii Remote. But seniors and kids alike can connect with active and fun Wii games. One of the great things about video games like Wii Bowling or Wii Golf is that they are social and competitive. Playing Mario Kart on any gaming system is fun, but we think the Wii adds another layer of immersion.
Playing a Nintendo Wii® bowling alley for 30 minutes twice a week while seated for 8 weeks can be considered an option for improving balance in older adults. In addition, these studies should examine protocols that require Nintendo Wii (r) bowling to be performed while standing.
Some research suggests that bowling on the Wii improves balance, but the results are inconclusive. In a case study published in the journal Physical Therapy in 2011, an 89-year-old woman with a history of imbalances and falls significantly improved her balance test scores after participating in a game of Wii bowling 6 times. An unbalanced 89-year-old woman has improved her balance test scores significantly after playing just six games of Wii bowling.
Studies have shown that active video games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit can improve cognitive performance. But older Wii dance games like Just Dance can keep you motivated to learn new moves while doing cardio.
Running, jogging, walking
Running is not recommended for some older people, especially those with heart problems or arthritis. However, if you are a healthy older person and your doctor has given you the green light, there are many health benefits to running. Running is one of the best cardio sports and is a great way to strengthen your lower body muscles. Always make sure you are wearing suitable footwear for the elderly and avoid running in extreme temperatures. It's usually easy to find running clubs where you can meet new people, network, and find support for your new outdoor hobby. Watch your joints.
Also consider a frequent change in scenery. Integrate your running into your vacations and weekend get aways. Go with your significant other, bring the dogs. There are four important variables to a great, enjoyable run:
- A track is boring, the parkin is good, green belts are great. There is nothing like a beach run. What about jogging in the woods. What about jogging with a backpack on for a picnic lunch?
- The company. Sometimes it is great just to take a run by yourself. But most of the time you will want to jog with someone. I always try to run with someone a little bit better than me to encourage me to push myself.
- The weather. I love a great run when is slightly cold outside. In Southern California, this means about 60 degrees. I had one of my greatest runs in a light midsummer, morning drizzle.
- Time of day. I prefer a good morning run after brushing my teeth but before breakfast. If I don’t run by 10:00am the chances are good I will not run.
Walking is an awesome way to start your day. Find someone you enjoy talking to and go for a nice half hour walk before breakfast and your day will go much better. I actually kind of do a walking meditation freeing my mind of all the clutter from the prior day.
Nordic Walking
This sport is more intense than regular walking and therefore has more cardiovascular benefits. Using specially designed walking sticks, athletes use the upper body to propel themselves forward while walking around town or in the countryside. Nordic Walking offers a gentle full body workout that will quickly improve your physical condition.
It doesn't matter if you're a beginner; just find a group of people who do this sport to learn how to do it on your own and have company while exercising.
Nordic Walking is the perfect sport for weekend picnics, getting together with friends. The last time I went we stopped for a Sativa break. The second half of the walk was so much easier.
Archery
Have you ever thought about devoting yourself to archery? It might seem like an unusual choice, but archery is another good option. If there is an archery range nearby (or even a large backyard), this sport can do wonders for upper body strength and flexibility. Archery will also cheer you up in the sun. Finding the right equipment and trainer is key, as incorrect movements can lead to painful injuries.
As long as you take the time to get used to the sport, you can reap many wonderful health benefits! Archery is also great for your cognitive abilities as it requires precise movements and good hand-eye coordination. As your archery skills improve, you may want to take up an archery competition for a more challenging challenge.
Lawn bowling and Croquet
Croquet
These sports offer a low-impact alternative that you can play at your home or at a friend's if they have a large yard. They also create a great opportunity to create a new club and chat with friends and acquaintances. The high point of Croquet is getting the opportunity of knocking one of your opponents ball out of the field of play. Almost everyone can play Croquet.
Lawn bowling
Lawn bowling is mostly played outdoors (although the indoor version is also popular in the UK) on a manicured lawn called the green. a game played with heavy balls, the object of which is to propel one's ball so that it comes to rest as close as possible to a previously bowled small ball (the jack). This is a great game to play with a good mix of long island iced tea.
