Age needn’t be a barrier to staying active. There are lots of sports people of all ages try and enjoy. Even if you probably don’t want to run a marathon for the first time in your 70s, there are plenty of other fun sports you can participate in. Here are some of the best sports for people of all ages.
Cycling
Cycling is great whatever age you are. While there is some skill involved, most people learn to ride a bike as a child and never forget how. Cycling is non-load bearing, so even if you are overweight, it won’t hurt your joints. You can cycle at your own pace and enjoy the scenery. Even hills are no barrier these days, thanks to the invention of electric bicycles. Cycling is also a social activity because it is fun to try with friends. As your fitness improves, you can plan longer rides and make a day of it, stopping for lunch along the way.
Walking
Walking isn’t exactly a sport because we walk to get from A to B, but if you start walking for pleasure, you might rediscover the joys of getting around on two feet. The wonderful thing about walking is that it enables you to see things you might have missed while traveling by car. Explore your neighborhood and discover places you haven’t seen before. In time, you might decide to visit new places and walk different trails. You could even join a walking club and turn walking into a social activity, where you walk and chat with other like-minded people.
Swimming
Swimming is suitable for just about everyone as it places no stress on the joints. Being in the water is relaxing and you can swim whatever stroke you prefer, at your own pace. Visit a local community swimming pool or take advantage of the one in your backyard if you are lucky enough to be blessed with an outdoor pool. Even if you can’t swim, you can still enjoy being in the water with the aid of flotation devices. Check out whether there are adult swimming lessons in your area if you’d like to learn how to swim. After all, being able to swim is a valuable skill to have and it could save your life one day.
Shooting Sports
Shooting sports include things like target practice, clay pigeon shooting, and crossbow shooting. These are sports anyone of any age can try. To be good at shooting, you need excellent hand-eye coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. Taking up shooting as a hobby will help these as well as teach you focus and patience. Join a shooting club and practice hitting targets or buy a gun and shoot cans in your backyard. Supplies are readily available online and there are ammo stores that offer hundreds of choices.
Golf
Golf is suitable for men and women of all ages. If you are reasonably fit, you can walk between holes, but there is no great shame in using a golf buggy to get around instead, particularly on a larger course. Playing a round of golf is a fun, relaxing sport. You can chat with your fellow golfers and enjoy drinks at the 19th hole. Join a golf club or practice putting at a public golf course.
Yoga
There are yoga classes for everyone, even people who have never tried yoga before. This is a type of exercise you can enjoy at any stage of your life, and it offers numerous health benefits.
If none of these sports appeal, try a few exercise classes until you find one that makes you smile. Spoiler alert: it probably won’t be the cardio-intensive ones that burn upwards of 1,000 calories in an hour.
