While it is entirely possible to work out at home or outside, joining and working out at a gym has numerous advantages. For one, there is a large amount of space and a wide variety of equipment and machines, all allowing you to perform many exercises that would be otherwise difficult or impossible at home. Staff and instructors teach classes for you to follow along with, and can show you the correct and safe way to use machines and perform exercises. Gyms also provide a place to exercise in the event of bad weather, and many health insurance plans offer discounted or even free gym memberships.
Safety is as important at the gym as it is anywhere else. Proper technique will help you avoid injuries, and consult with your doctor beforehand to make sure there aren’t any exercises it would be dangerous for you to perform. Finding a gym that offers senior friendly classes and instructors experienced with older adults is a great idea as well.
Experts from the American Academy of Dermatology advise that germs that cause skin infections can thrive on gym equipment and in locker rooms. Before you use any gym equipment, be sure to wipe it down with disinfectant, which should be provided by the gym.
Many gyms offer on-site tanning as well, and many people associate having a tan with having good health. But the truth is that tanning beds damage our skin and raise the risk of skin cancer. So be smart and skip the tanning beds.