7 Sports to Try After Turning 50

As we get older, there’s an increased need to stay active to keep ourselves healthy. Whether you recently entered your 50s or you’re well into your golden retirement years, there are a handful of sports that can help you stay sharp and feeling great. Give one of these seven best sports and activities for seniors a try.

Yoga

One of the more relaxing activities to take on after 50 is yoga. Not only will you feel a bit calmer after a yoga class, but the added focus on maintaining flexibility and good mobility goes a long way as we age as well.

Why Should You Do Yoga?

Aside from staying flexible, yoga’s focus on mobility without putting too much stress on your joints is important for maintaining an active lifestyle and providing a better range of motion in your hips, knees, back, and ankles.

On top of that, yoga classes vary in difficulty. If all you’re looking for is something relaxing, you can find flow classes that focus on your breathing and keeping you limber. But if you’re looking to turn up the temperature—literally—on your daily activities, hot yoga classes can help you strengthen your body while also helping you shed a few pounds in the process.

Swimming

If you’re looking to work up a sweat while keeping the stress on your joints to a minimum, swimming is a great option. Regardless of your fitness level, swimming is accessible through public pools or fitness center pools.

Why Should You Swim?

Swimming is great for all athletic levels and ages because of how easy it is to switch up the workouts to fit your abilities without putting much pressure on your joints. How easy is it to vary workouts with swimming?

You can keep your heart rate low by completing some walking laps or focusing on kicking using a kickboard. Both offer resistance training without restricting breathing like a regular swim stroke would. But if what you want is a something more strenuous, start with 50-meter laps and work up from there.

CrossFit

Instead of spending an hour at the gym trying to get in random exercises, check out a CrossFit class. These classes are typically created for members of all ages and skill levels with one goal in mind: improving their fitness.

Why Should You Try CrossFit?

If you’ve ever thought about trying CrossFit but worried that it would be too hard or too demanding on your body as you age, think again. No matter your age or if you’ve ever lifted weights, workouts can be scaled to fit your ability and strength.

In the past year, CrossFit has put a renewed focus on improving the lives of aging adults by coming up with at-home workouts that can be completed with minimal equipment. In fact, most people use common items found around the house. The importance of these workouts isn’t to turn anyone into the next Arnold Schwarzenegger, but instead to help improve cardiovascular health and mobility so you can live a more active lifestyle.

Tennis

Keep the competitive streak alive and well by picking up a racket and playing a tennis match. Tennis is great for beginners or long-time players in their 50s because, no matter what, you can take the game at whatever speed feels best for you.

Why Should You Play Tennis?

Tennis is great for everyone because it can be an intense cardiovascular activity or just an enjoyable hour or two with a spouse or friends. While you may have to deal with some wear and tear on your joints, slowing the game down can go a long way in letting you play for more years.

Worried about tennis elbow? Take some precautions prior to playing by putting some CBD ice on your elbow and bicep, as this may help to reduce the chances of inflammation and discomfort.

Pickleball

On the hunt for a sport that’s not too intense, but that will still satisfy that competitive spirit? Give pickleball a go. This activity is a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. While you may have only heard of the game, pickleball is an incredibly popular game at rec centers across the United States.

Why Should You Play Pickleball?

It doesn’t matter what age you may be, somewhere deep down you stay as competitive as ever. Pickleball gives you the opportunity to take on your friends, either one-on-one or in doubles matches, while still being able to enjoy time with one another. Unlike other sports, pickleball is a close-quarter game that can be played at a leisurely pace. This allows time for you and friends to chat, joke around, and not exert too much energy each point.

Walking

Okay, so it’s not necessarily a “sport,” but walking is one of the best activities for people over 50. Going on walks with your dog, significant other, or on your own can play a large role in prolonging your active life.

Why Should You Walk?

Unlike running, walking is much easier on your joints and muscles in your legs. But that doesn’t mean it’s any easier. Going on a walk that covers a couple of miles will provide you with a quality cardiovascular workout that isn’t too stressful.

Walking is also a great stress reliever, similar to running. When walking for a long distance, your body releases endorphins in your brain, which in turn can boost your mood and make even the most stressful of days feel better. Additionally, walking can be done anywhere and at any time, giving you the whole day to find an opportunity to get out and move.

Golf

There’s no better way to spend a morning, afternoon, or both with friends or family than on the golf course. Best of all, golf is a great full body workout that puts less stress on your joints and a similar focus on flexibility as yoga can have. It’s truly one of the better sports for seniors.

On top of that, you can choose to walk the course, which makes each round a different type of workout than driving around in a golf cart.

Why You Should Play Golf?

Aside from the ability to enjoy a good chunk of time with those close to you, golf is as competitive and strenuous as you want to make it. For many players, they take the time before each round to loosen up their back, shoulders, and knees, which takes the brunt of pressure during a round from each swing. By just taking a few minutes every time you play golf to stretch out some problem areas, you can spend more days on the course.

Don’t forget to supplement your recovery, too. Frontier Jackson carries CBD products designed specifically for golfers in mind. With CBD oils, gum, and daily softgel capsules, you can subdue the tiny aches and pains that keep you from hitting your lowest score.

At the end of the day, it’s up to each of us to find an activity we love that helps us live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. To ensure you can keep doing what you love, you should also do what you can to take care of your body. Frontier Jackson can help. Try one of our great CBD products today to set out on a new path.