Workout to Go - National Institutes of Health

Workout to Go A Sample Exercise Routine from the National Institute on Aging at NIH

Workout to Go

Are you just starting to exercise? Getting back into a routine after a break? Wanting to keep up your physical activities away from home? The 13 exercises in this sample workout can help. In this booklet, you'll find easy-to-follow strength, balance, and flexibility exercises that you can do anytime, anywhere.

One of the great things about physical activity is that there are so many ways to be active. This workout is only one of them. The secret to success is to be creative, find activities you enjoy, and keep going.

This sample workout is part of Go4Life?, an outreach campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH to help you fit exercise and physical activity into your daily life. For more exercises, motivational tips, and other free materials, visit our website:

go4life.nia.

Go4Life is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Get Ready

Before you begin, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Safety always comes first. If you haven't had regular checkups, you might want to talk with your doctor about your workout plans. Ask if there are any reasons to modify your program or adjust the exercises to do them safely. Always listen to your body and do what you can as long as you're comfortable.

Drink plenty of water. Unless your doctor has asked you to limit fluids, be sure to drink water when you exercise. Many older adults don't feel thirsty even when their body needs fluids.

Wear comfortable clothes. Be sure to wear clothes that let you move freely.

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Get Set

For the workout, you'll need two tennis balls, a sturdy chair with arms, a towel, and two equally weighted objects--like hand or wrist weights, soup cans, or water bottles. You may need to use 1- or 2-pound weights when starting out. As the exercises become easier, gradually add more weight. You will start the sample workout by warming up. Then, move on to the strength and balance exercises. For each exercise, we show one set of 10-15 repetitions. Try doing 3 sets, and then cool down with the flexibility exercises.

WHAT YOU NEED

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Safety Tips

Breathe regularly during strength exercises. For example, breathe out as you lift the weight, and

breathe in as you relax. When doing leg lifts, breathe out as you lift your leg and breathe in as you lower it. Use smooth, steady movements when lifting weights. To prevent injury, don't jerk or thrust weights into position. Keep your arm and leg joints slightly bent. Avoid "locking" your arm and leg joints in a tightly straightened position. Choose a sturdy chair with arms. Make sure the chair is stable enough to support you when seated or when holding on during the exercise. Make slow, steady movements. Never "bounce" into a stretch. Always bend forward from the hips, not the waist. If you keep your back straight, you're bending the right way. Stop if you feel pain. You might feel some soreness after you exercise, but exercise should not hurt or make you feel really tired. In fact, in many ways, being active will probably make you feel better.

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