SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Contact Us: NSGA@NSGA.com
  • HOME
  • NSGA OFFICIAL STORE
  • PARTNERS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE TODAY

National Senior Games Association

National Senior Games Association

The NSGA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness and active aging to adults ages 50+.

T (727) 475-1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO BOX 5630, Clearwater, FL 33758 USA

  • ABOUT
    • About the NSGA
    • How To Qualify
    • FAQs
    • History of the NSGA
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Sports Chairs
    • National Games Awards
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities
    • 30th Anniversary
  • STATE GAMES
    • State Games Information
    • National Senior Games Week
    • State Regions
    • Team Partner Finder
    • NSGA Award Winners
  • NATIONAL GAMES
    • How to Compete
    • National Games Information
      • Athlete Check-In
      • Registration
      • Competition Schedules
      • Hotels & Lodging
      • Limited Events Verification Form
      • Rules & Minimum Performance Standards
      • NSGA Official Merchandise
      • Results & Records
      • Special Events
      • Team Partner Finder
      • Transportation & Parking
      • Venue Information
      • Volunteer for the Games
      • How To Qualify
    • Mile for the Ages
    • NSG CUP
    • National Senior Games Partners
    • 2027 NSG Tulsa
    • 2029 NSG Birmingham
  • SPORTS
    • Individual Sports
      • Archery
      • Badminton
      • Basketball – Shooting Skills
      • Billiards – 8 Ball
      • Bowling
      • Cornhole
      • Cycling
      • Disc Golf
      • Golf
      • Golf (Scramble)
      • Pickleball
      • Powerlifting
      • Power Walk
      • Race Walk
      • Racquetball
      • Road Race
      • Shuffleboard
      • Swimming
      • Table Tennis
      • Tai Chi
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
    • Non-Ambulatory Sports
      • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
      • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
      • Non-Ambulatory Pickleball
      • Non-Ambulatory Shuffleboard
    • Team Sports
      • Basketball
      • Beach Volleyball
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
  • HEALTH & WELL-BEING
    • Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)
    • Exercise Resources
    • Fitness Videos
    • Well-Being Resources
    • NSGA Ambassador Program Activities
  • MEDIA
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Photo Galleries
      • 2023 Photo Gallery
      • 2023 Softball Championships Photo Gallery
      • 2022 Photo Gallery
      • 2019 Photo Gallery
    • Videos
      • NSG Video Stories
      • 2022 NSG Video Recaps
      • 2019 NSG Video Recaps
      • #StayFitSeniors Athlete Videos
    • Press Room
    • Archived Press Releases
    • Athlete of the Month
    • NSGA Newsletter Archive
    • Personal Best Features
    • Games Daily News Archives
      • 2023 Games Daily News
      • 2022 Games Daily News
      • 2019 Games Daily News
      • 2017 Games Daily News
    • Senior Games Blogs & Podcasts
REGISTER
NOW!
 May 21, 2025

Five Ways Exercise Can Reduce Loneliness and Improve Health in Older Adults

Five Ways Exercise Can Reduce Loneliness and Improve Health in Older Adults

by NSGA Admin / Monday, 10 May 2021 / Published in Get In Shape With Ageility

If loneliness were a virus, we’d call it a pandemic. According to the AARP, more than half of adults 50 and over have reported experiencing social isolation due to COVID-19.1 And that’s a problem: As the AARP also points out, decades of research have taught us that prolonged social isolation and loneliness are more damaging to your health than obesity and as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

What can you do? How about a both/and: moving your muscles for your body while making social connections for your mind and spirit. In other words, try exercise but with a twist. Do it in the company of others.

Besides being good for your health, exercising with a buddy or group can be a big part of the cure for loneliness. So call a friend, ask them to join your “team,” and make your exercise routine your social routine, too. Here are five tips to get started:

  1. Walk and talk with your friend. Get all the neighborhood dirt while cleaning out your arteries. Walking and talking is actually a great barometer to track your fitness— doctors call it the “the talk test.” If you find yourself getting winded, slow down your pace and gradually increase it day by day.
  2. Join a group exercise class. Studies have shown that group exercise class can reduce the symptoms of depression by 30% or more in exercising older adults.2 (If you hate exercise but enjoy being with friends, this might be the cure for you.)
  3. Join a sport club or league. Tennis or golf, volleyball or pickleball—choose something new or a past pastime. Rediscover your competitive spirit or just enjoy the camaraderie of a team. Leagues have schedules you commit to, making it more likely you’ll stick with it, especially if you don’t like to let others down.
  4. Work out with a personal trainer. A personal trainer will motivate you while also providing the bonus of companionship. Ageility offers fitness training from certified instructors who focus on where you’re at right now as well as your personal goals. Find out if there’s an Ageility clinic near you.
  5. Revisit an old exercise “flame.” Haven’t played tennis or golf (or something else) in 20 years but want to start up again? Pick up that racquet or nine-iron and remember what you loved about the sport, and don’t worry if you’re rusty. Ask a friend you used to play with or a newer acquaintance to join you once a week for a set date.
  6. Try a partner workout. Simple exercises can become a lot more fun with a friend. Watch our Ageility trainers demonstrate a simple workout that requires a partner – you simply can’t do it alone.

You get the picture. This pandemic time is a time to lean on others to get you moving again. The great thing is, soon you won’t be leaning but standing up straight. Exercise can be much easier when you’re not the only one doing it. Plus, if you invite a friend to join you, chances are they’re in the same boat and will be grateful you asked.

 

Tip: Especially if you’ve been sedentary, consult your doctor or a physical therapist before starting an exercise regimen.

These tips are brought to you by Ageility fitness trainers. Ageility is a national leader in providing innovative rehab and fitness solutions for older adults who are reimagining aging.

Find more tips and stories at the Ageility blog.

 

Sources:

  1. Pandemic has created loneliness epidemic, new report shows. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2020/isolation-survey-coronavirus.html. Accessed April 30, 2021.
  2. British Journal of Psychiatry, 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11983637/. Accessed April 30, 2021.
  • Tweet
Tagged under: Ageility, Exercise

About NSGA Admin

What you can read next

Move Well with Functional Fitness
Pickleball Sport Specific Training
Let’s Play Pickleball!

Recent Posts

  • Get in the Senior Games and Flip the Script on Aging

    By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health ...
  • Mind Over Racket

    May 2025 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA...
  • Ready, Set, Move! How to Prepare for Mile for the Ages

    By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health ...
  • Overcoming Fear by Example

    April 2025 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NS...

Archives

Categories

FOOTER MENU

  • About
  • State Games
  • National Games
  • Sports
  • News and Events
  • Partners
  • Donate Today
  • Press Room
  • Coordinators Homepage
  • QG Coordinators
  • How to Use the NSGA Website

NSGA “The Long Run” & General Interest Signup

GET IN TOUCH

T (727) 475 1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO Box 5630, Clearwater, FL, 33758 USA

  • GET SOCIAL
National Senior Games Association

Non Discrimination Statement |Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use  
Accessibility Statement | Linking Policy | Help/Contact
© 2024 National Senior Games Association. All rights reserved. Designed by JayBirds Co Inc.
A 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization | EIN: 43-1488742
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR CONTACTING THE DIVISION IS 1-800-435-7352 AND REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE AT https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services
National Senior Games Association`s Florida Charity Registration Number, CH62417

TOP
NSGA Uses Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
2025 National Senior Games Presented by Humana - July 24 - August 4, 2025 65 Days 4 Hours 4 Minutes 6 Seconds