Physical fitness plays a great part in the overall health and outlook of people as they age. Here are links to some organizations that contribute to the physical fitness of older adults. More resources, and links to articles about fitness in SSM’s Gray Matters magazine, are below.
Forever…in motion
Forever … in motion is an accessible exercise program developed for older adults by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and is available in many communities throughout the province.
Learn more on page 8 of the Spring 2020 issue of Gray Matters.
Direct link to Forever…in motion‘s webpage on the SPRA website.
Participaction
Remember those Participaction TV ads of years gone by? Participaction is still in action. You can learn more about Participaction for older adults on page 10 of the Winter 2020 issue of Gray Matters and visit the Participaction website for more information and to access their Adult Report Card.
Urban Poling/Nordic Walking
Walking poles can extend the amount of exercise you get, even in a simple walk around the block – and despite the name “urban poling,” walking poles can be used anywhere it’s safe to walk. Learn more at the Urban Poling website. Check out this brochure from In Motion Canada.
See more on page 5 of the Spring 2018 issue of Gray Matters.
Healthy Aging
“Ageing healthily is what we all aspire to. Healthy Ageing is about maintaining the functional ability that allows you to do the things you value. This means preserving both your physical and mental capacity as you age – it also means making changes to our environments (housing, transportation, public spaces etc.) so that they are accessible to and supportive of older people with varying needs and capacities.
Action to foster Healthy Ageing can help tackle inequities and ensure older people age safely in a place that is right for them, are free from poverty, can continue to develop personally and can contribute to their communities while retaining autonomy and health. Healthy Ageing will help build societies that are cohesive, peaceful, just, secure and sustainable.” Quoted from a World Health Organization document on Healthy Aging.
Read more on pages 14 and 15 of the Spring 2019 issue of Gray Matters, and learn what some communities are doing to promote an active and healthy older adult population.
Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines
On the Active Aging Canada website, you can find the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Older Adults. These guidelines, developed by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), are an excellent resource to help you make wise choices about physical activity.
Get Active Questionnaire
“Physical activity improves your physical and mental health. Even small amounts of physical activity are good, and more is better. Pre-screening for physical activity using an evidence-based screening tool is an important first step in ensuring a safe and enjoyable physical activity experience. Screening identifies those who may need more evaluation before doing a fitness assessment or becoming more physically active.
The Get Active Questionnaire, developed by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), is intended to easily screen-in the majority of Canadians to safely participate in physical activity and exercise. The Questionnaire is for all ages to help move individuals along the path to becoming more physically active.”
You can read more on page 20 of the Spring 2021 issue of Gray Matters, and you can find the Get Active Questionnaire at this link.
Exercise is Medicine
Exercise does so much good for our bodies, minds, and attitudes. It truly is medicine for the whole person. Do you know how much exercise you should be striving for in a 24-hour period? Do you know how to judge what is safe for you to do?
You can find more information on page 19 in the Spring 2022 issue of Gray Matters.
Links:
Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines
CSEP’s Get Active Questionnaire
Visit the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) website to find a qualified exercise professional such as a CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist™ (CSEP-CEP) or a CSEP Certified Personal Trainer® (CSEP-CPT)
Exercise and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis Canada has several videos to provide ideas for safe and effective exercise and physical activity from experts and real-life clients. Find the video series here.
Too Fit to Fracture
Find resources and exercises for balance, strength and posture, as well as information on bone health on page 14 and 15 of the Fall 2019 issue of Gray Matters. Get more information on all you can do to improve your bone health at the Osteoporosis Canada website.
Fitness for the mind
Silver Times, the official publication of Active Aging Canada, shared helpful words about how to recognize depression, and how to take steps to manage mental health and live well as we age. This was shared on page 14 of the Summer 2021 issue of Gray Matters.
Exercise and mental health
Exercise can help your mental health, alleviating anxiety, helping you deal with stress, anxiety, depression and more. “Exercise relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy and releases endorphins that fight anxiety. If you add a mindfulness element – really focus on your breathing, how your body feels as you exercise, sights and sounds around you – it will help to interrupt the flow of constant worries that get stuck in our head.” Read more in the Winter 2021 issue of Gray Matters, pages 16 and 17.
Brain Fitness as Important as Body Fitness
Can we slow down or reverse some of the normal cognitive decline with aging? Read more on pages 4 and 5 of the Fall 2017 issue of Gray Matters.
Exercise at home
During the pandemic, we had to learn new ways to do things – including exercise. Although it’s now possible to go out to get our exercise, it’s still helpful to know ways we can practice good physical health and be active within our homes.
There are so many resources available to help you stay active at home. It is so good for your mind, your body and your spirit. It is so important to keep busy and stay active. If you need a few ideas to stay active, stay safe and keep your distance, please check out the links below, and read the full article on page 16 of the Summer 2020 issue of Gray Matters, although most of it is reproduced here. (List provided by Active Aging Canada.)
Active Aging Minutes
Get a daily dose of activity through the suggestions in this PDF Daily Active Aging Minutes brochure from Active Aging Canada.
Exercise at Home Videos
Check out these YouTube videos from Active Aging Canada.
Get in Motion (physical activity information for those with physical disabilities)
Get in Motion from the Canadian Disability Participation Project provides free physical activity information, by phone or video, to adult Canadians with physical disabilities. Get the support you need to be active at home. (Scroll down to find “Get the Support You Need to be Active at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic”)
Resistance Exercise Videos
Keeping your muscles active and healthy through regular resistance training will greatly improve your management of diabetes. Diabetes Canada recommends resistance exercise 2-3 times a week. Their videos are at this link.
French Language Exercise Videos
French language fitness videos for older adults are available at the website of Move50+.
Made with Elementor
Copyright SSM, 2025. All rights reserved.
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |