Five Ways to Spice Up Your Exercise Program

Group exercise is an essential component of a well-rounded activity program, offering residents the opportunity to move intentionally, improving fine and large motor skills, strength, flexibility, endurance, and range of motion.

Thanks to exercise being easily adaptable and social, it is often a daily part of the activity program at most communities. Morning exercise sessions provide residents with a chance to get moving after breakfast, socialize with friends, and learn about the day's upcoming events. 

However, doing the same routine every day can lead to monotony, reducing the physical and cognitive benefits of exercise for participants. Activity staff may also become bored or complacent. 

To keep your program fresh and engaging, try incorporating some of these tips. You don’t have to implement them all at once; introducing new elements gradually will help maintain interest for everyone involved.

1. Change the Movement

Refresh your exercise program by introducing new styles of movement. While traditional "Sit and Be Fit" exercises are great, consider adding new activities weekly or monthly to keep things interesting. You may even attract different participants, which is fantastic! New movements can appeal to a broader audience.

Ideas to Try:

• Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Stretching
• Weights or resistance bands
• Walking groups
• Chair aerobics
• Balance exercises
• Ballroom, square, or other types of dancing
• Pilates
• Swimming or water-based classes
• Cycling
• Drum circles

Remember, movement doesn’t always have to come from a structured exercise class. Consider incorporating fun activities like games that promote movement.
Try some of these fun ideas for movement in a game setting.

2. Vary the Music

One of the simplest ways to change up your exercise class is by varying the music. The music selection sets the tone for the class- whether it’s relaxing & restorative or energizing & upbeat.

Ways to Vary Music:

• Holidays: Use holiday-themed music or remixes to match the season.
• Monthly Themes: For example, during a beach-themed month, play steel drum music, or use jazz tunes during Mardi Gras.
• Take Requests: Engage residents by allowing them to request songs. If using Alexa, Google Home, or another device, encourage residents to request songs themselves.
• Live Music: As a special treat, invite musicians like a harpist for a tai chi class, a flute player for yoga, or a marching snare drum line for a walking club.
• Sing-Alongs: Singing during exercise can enhance breath control and ensure residents aren’t overexerting themselves, as they should be able to sing or talk during low-impact classes.

3. Use Props

Sometimes, adding a few props can make your exercise class feel more exciting. Keep a bin of props handy to pull out when things feel dull, and check your activity closet for items that could serve as fun additions to your classes.

Prop Ideas:

• Curling ribbon, yarn, or streamers
• Holiday wreaths
• Hand weights or resistance bands
• Stress balls
• Various sports balls (tennis, basketball, etc.)
• Balloons
• Plastic Easter eggs filled with popcorn kernels (taped shut)
• Tambourines or drums
• Ribbon wands
• Beach balls
• Towels or scarves
• Jingle bells
• Hats (top hats, baseball caps, etc.)

Use these props to encourage new movements and add a visual element to your classes. For extra fun, theme the props to match your music.

4. Get Help from Guests

Consider inviting a guest facilitator once a month. This gives your staff a break and offers everyone a chance to learn new approaches from other instructors. Guest instructors can come from various places:

Potential Guest Instructors:

• Local senior center
• Parks and recreation department
• Zumba or yoga instructors
• Jazzercise instructors

You can also invite people from within your community to lead exercises occasionally. This can be enjoyable for both residents and guest instructors. Just be sure to provide ample preparation and resources.

Ideas for Community Guest Instructors:

• Administrator
• Director of Nursing
• Caregiver
• Family members
• Favorite performers or entertainers
• Chef
• Maintenance Director
• Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapist

Technology can also be a great resource. Consider using YouTube videos to lead group exercises a few times per month, especially when trying out new routines like yoga or tai chi. Just make sure to preview the video to ensure it’s appropriate for your residents.

5. Diversify Groups

If your community serves residents with a variety of abilities, one big group exercise class may not meet everyone’s needs. Consider diversifying your groups to better serve all participants.

Suggestions for Diverse Groups:

• Lower-functioning residents: A weekly range-of-motion class.
• Residents with arthritis: A monthly fine-motor-focused class.
• Wandering residents: A daily Calming Walk Club, designed to help them relax in the evenings.
• Early risers: An Early Rise Exercise group for residents who are awake and bored before breakfast.

Group exercise is a fantastic way to connect with residents daily. Have you ever felt your program becoming stagnant? I’d love to hear your ideas for keeping things exciting. Share your tips in the comments, and I might add them to my own list!

Related:
How to Run Group Exercise Sessions for the Elderly
How to Plan and Implement an Exercise Program
Exercise Activities