If you’re over 55, exercising is a great way to stay healthy, active and confident. Many diseases and health concerns can be linked to an inactive lifestyle so regular exercise can be extremely beneficial for the mind and the body. Regular exercise can also release endorphins and help you feel happier. Yoga, for example, can help de-stress the mind and body. Exercising can increase your balance, endurance, cardiovascular strength and posture too.
If you live in Coquitlam ─ then you’re in luck! There are many places in Coquitlam that you can go to exercise and keep active. Check out the places below! Leave a comment and let us know if you can think of other great ways to exercise in Coquitlam for over 55.
City Centre Aquatic Complex
The benefits of swimming for over 55 are endless! The best part about swimming is that it’s easy on your joints. Activities such as running and jumping can be hard on your bones and potentially cause fractures and other injuries. Swimming doesn’t put stress on your bones and joints and provides enough resistance to give you a good cardiovascular workout. Swimming can also improve your flexibility, give you better posture, improve your balance and lower your risk of osteoporosis.
The City Centre Aquatic Complex is right across the street from City Hall and provides swimming and fitness training for all ages. Try lane swimming to exercise at your own pace. There are different lanes for different speeds, so you can choose which one would be best suited for your exercise needs. The City Centre Aquatic Complex also has a range of aerobic classes for different exercise styles such as AquaFit, AquaFit Zumba and Aqua Boot Camp. If you’re over 65, you can get a discount on your admission fee too.
Check out this Aquatic complex on 1210 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam – it’s open 7 days a week!
Town Centre Park
Taking regular walks is a great form of exercise if you’re over 55. A pedometer is a great way to measure your daily steps to make sure you’re walking a lot during the day. It’s amazing what a walk can do! Just a 15-minute walk can lower your blood sugar and when it comes to your heart, walking is just as good as running. It provides great cardiovascular exercise for your heart and can strengthen your muscles over time. Walking can reduce anxiety, especially for women going through menopause. When you do any type of cardiovascular exercise, it releases endorphins that help you feel great.
If you live in the Coquitlam area, check out the Stadium Loop at the Town Centre Park. If you enjoy more scenery, take a walk around Lafarge Lake for a great view of the lake and forest as you walk along the track. These trails will make your workout go by quicker as you to get some fresh air while you enjoy the natural beauty of Coquitlam.
Bikram Yoga
Yoga has many benefits for your overall health, especially if you’re over 55. Regular yoga boosts energy, increases flexibility, reduces aches and makes you feel great. Yoga allows you to connect with the muscles in your body and your breath, making you feel more balanced and at peace. If you’ve never tried yoga before, we would definitely recommend that you try it at least once. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!
Bikram Yoga is great for all ages and ability and each class lasts up to 90 minutes each. Each of the 16 postures and 2 breathing exercises is designed to stretch each muscle group, ligaments and joints. The Bikram Yoga Studio in Coquitlam is located on 108-3000 Lougheed Highway. This facility offers everything you need for your regular Bikram yoga practice from a lounge area, changing rooms and the hot room. There’s also convenient parking in the Westwood Mall parking lot and underground at the Superstore parking lot.
Pinetree Community Centre
Weight training is a great way to strengthen your muscles and improve your balance. Remember to understand your limitations, especially if you’ve had injuries in the past. We recommend visiting your doctor before starting an exercise routine to make sure it’s the right routine for you. Make sure you start slow with weight training and do the basics, don’t rush into an exercise that you don’t feel too comfortable with as you could potentially injure yourself. If you’re over 55, it’s never too late. You can build muscle and burn body fat at any age.
At the Pinetree Community Centre, there’s an entire weight training room that focuses on different parts of the body. On each machine are specific instructions on how to use it, make sure you read the description right before trying any machine. Using a machine improperly can lead to injury if you’re over 55. Check out this weight room and other exercising facilities at 1260 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam. The Pinetree Community Centre staff would be happy to answer any questions you have about your personal fitness needs.
Lululemon
We’re excited to have Lululemon in Coquitlam Centre! Lululemon was founded here in Vancouver in 1998 and has become a widely recognized brand and leader for yoga practices and work out wear. If you’re over 55, check out their yoga classes in Coquitlam Centre. Lululemon hosts many in-store events, including self-defence and yoga classes. We’ve already spoke about the benefits of yoga above for your balance, posture and your muscle strength.
The next time you’re at Greenline Dental Centre, check out Lululemon and see if they’re hosting a yoga class. Their classes are hosted every week and the best part is, its complementary! If you’re wondering where they get the space from, they push aside all their store item so they can have a class in the centre of their store. It’s a unique experience to try and a great way to exercise if you’re over 55. Try it out and leave a comment to let us know how it went. Lululemon is located on the upper floor of Coquitlam Centre, near Target and Old Navy.
Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex
The Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex offers some unique ways to exercise if you’re over 55. Located at 633 Poirier Street in Coquitlam, this complex’s ice, aquatic and fitness facilities offer some great ways for you to get a great cardiovascular exercise. If you’ve been skating before and you feel quite comfortable with it, then strap on some skates and head to this rink. Ice-skating is a great form of exercise that’s unique and fun to do with family and friends. The Poirier Complex offers exercise classes that can be great for your joints and muscles. This complex also offers a fitness facility if you’re looking to do weight training or general cardiovascular exercises. If any of these exercises appeal to you, check this community centre out today!
The Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex also offers free swim days on Sunday, April 6 and May 4th from 7:00-9:00pm. Skate for free too on Saturdays, March 15th, April 26th, May 17th and June 21st. Leave a comment and let us know how your experience was!