If you’re looking for the perfect piece of exercise equipment that will help you see results and not take up space at home, resistance bands are it.
As we age it can be a little confusing to know what to focus on when it comes to exercises because not only is weight management and loss still important, but things like balance, strength, injury, muscle mass and flexibility all come into play.
First and foremost, keeping active as often as you can is important and essential as you age to keep things in good order. And that doesn’t mean you have work really hard each time you exercise. In fact, a combination of different types of workouts and levels of intensity it the best way to go.
Here is the InstructorLive list of the best workouts for over-50s.
In any case, it’s always best to check in with your GP before starting any new exercise routines. Especially if you have any medical issues or past injuries.
1. Walking and running
As well as doing specific workout classes that focus on specific exercises. Adding some walking and or running in the mix is great way to get the blood pumping. Getting out into nature also does wonder for your mental wellbeing. Running even has more health benefits, such as decreasing the risk of heart disease to lowering stress levels.
2. Pilates
Pilates is one of the best workouts for over-50s because not only is it a great core workout but it also has benefits when it comes to helping back and joint pain and improving posture.
If you’re looking to get started with the best online Pilates workouts for beginners, InstructorLive’s Introduction to Pilates course is made up of extremely gentle and slow-paced classes making it ideal for people who are completely new to Pilates or have a low fitness level.
With low-impact movements, Pilates is an extremely effective way to get a full-body workout without risking injury. It also makes this programme suitable for people with conditions or past injuries.
The slow controlled movements of Pilates can sometimes leave people thinking it’s easy, make no mistake. Pilates is still a tough full-body workout that provides results.
3. Yoga
Yoga is another ideal exercise for over-50s because it’s excellent for flexibility and balance – something that tends to decline as we age.
With many health benefits, research that suggests yoga can also help to prevent high blood pressure, heart disease, and alleviate aches and pains.
Not to mention is another one that great for the mind and the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day.
The InstructorLive Yoga Basics programme is the ideal place to start if you have never tried yoga workouts before.
In this series of beginner-level yoga classes, instructor Lindsay breaks down all the basics, using English terminology and explains each movement slowly and clearly.
With low-impact movements, yoga is an extremely effective way to get a full-body workout without risking injury. It also makes this programme suitable for people with conditions or past injuries.
The slow controlled movements of yoga can sometimes leave people thinking it’s easy, make no mistake. Yoga is a tough full-body workout that gets results and has you feeling good from the inside out.
4. Resistance exercises
You’d be forgiven for thinking that workouts involving weights aren’t for over-50s but you’d be wrong.
Strength training is key to help with ageing. As we get older strength training is important because it helps to maintain muscle mass. Which naturally declines as we age.
If you’re looking for a workout with an added challenge, the InstructorLive Introduction to Weights programme is a great way to improve strength and fitness.
Many women are put off by adding weights to their workouts, believing that it will bulk their bodies. This is not the case.
With much lower testosterone levels than men, it’s extremely difficult for women to bulk in muscle size. Making resistance training with weights a great workout to have you feeling good from the inside out.
The benefits you will see include, improved strength, increased muscle tone and weight loss.
5. Dance-based exercise classes
If you easily get bored or are simply for looking for a workout that is fun and upbeat. Trying some dance-based workouts set to music is a great idea.
If you’re looking for the best online HIIT workouts with a twist, this Dance HIIT for Beginners programme is fun, motivating and gets results.
Created by Personal Trainer and Choreographer, Glenn Ball, the 30-day programme has been specially designed to shred excess body fat and tone your muscles.
Each workout combines dance-style movements, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training to burn maximum calories during the workout and for up to 24 hours after, in order to transform your body and have you feeling amazing from the inside out.
6. Low-impact Interval Training
If you’re a beginner and looking for the best online workout for the over-50s or those with vulnerable joints or a low-range of motion, our Low-Impact Interval Training – Beginners programme is perfect for you.
Research shows that the best way to build tendon and ligament strength is through continued resistance training. Specifically designed with low-impact exercises to protect joints from dislocation, tears and strains. These workouts focus on building structural and muscular support around joints.
The Low-Impact Interval Training programme is the most effective type of exercise for increasing bone density, preventing the natural loss of bone density that occurs as we age, extending range of motion over time, stretching, strengthening and improving flexibility.
These workouts are design to be challenging while not being too long or exhaustive. Throughout the programme you are given options to make the exercises easier or more challenging depending on your unique needs.
With 800+ workouts, InstructorLive is the #1 platform for the best on-demand classes, motivation, recipes and results.
InstructorLive is unlike any other online fitness platform you’ve experienced. It’s a place to find your happy – we’re all about feeling good from the inside out. It doesn’t have to be too focused on losing a certain amount of weight or looking a certain way. We like to focus on healthy steps in the right direction – challenging yourself each day to do something that’s good for your body, mind and soul.
And because we’re not only about keeping your body moving, we also offer plenty of other ways to look after a healthy mind and nourished body. We have:
Programmes for everybody
With over 800+ workouts, whether you’re just starting out, looking for workouts to maintain a healthy body or want to challenge yourself to the next level, there’s something for everybody.
On-demand classes to suit your lifestyle
Anytime. Anywhere. With InstructorLive, you can attend a class when and where it works for you. Find programmes to suit your goals and tailor your workout schedule to suit your lifestyle.
Personalised nutrition to maximise workouts
We’re here to reinvigorate your attitude towards workouts and nutrition – because when you nourish your body to feel good from the inside out, you maximise your workouts and can achieve the best results.
Ask Austin Live
If you have a question about a workout, need some advice or want to simply find out about our programmes, we have a live feature on InstructorLive called Ask Austin. At any time of the day or night, get in touch with Austin – our resident health and fitness guru – and he’ll be able to help you.
Corporate Partnerships
We work with many businesses across the country to help you keep your teams fit, healthy and happy by offering bespoke packages. With 800+ different workouts ready to stream to any device with an internet connection, InstructorLive provides anytime, anywhere classes that are equally accessible to all members of staff, regardless of age, gender, fitness level, health goals or geographic location. If you would like to find out more about our Corporate Partnerships, please email team@instructorlive.com.
Welcome to InstructorLive.
Let’s energise your body and calm your mind.
If you have a query or want to know how to get in touch with our Support Team, here are a selection of InstructorLive’s frequently asked questions.
How much does it cost to join InstructorLive?
Our prices vary depending on the subscription plan you choose. You can sign-up to access one programme for as little as £4 per month. Or you can subscribe to the InstructorLive All Programmes Plan for £9.99 per month – this gives you access to every fitness class on InstructorLive – that’s over 800 workouts. If you want to save 33%, you can pay an annual fee of £79.99 to access the All Programmes Plan.
For the duration of your InstructorLive subscription, you can access programmes as many times as you like.
What’s included in the £4.99/m versus £9.99/m subscriptions?
The £4.99 per month plan gives you access to the programme you sign up for whereas the £9.99 per month Unlimited Programmes Plan gives you access to every fitness programme on InstructorLive – that’s over 800 workouts.
How many times can I access each of the classes/programmes?
For the duration of your InstructorLive subscription, you can access programmes as many times as you like.
How long does my subscription last?
Your subscription is a rolling plan that you can cancel at any time.
To cancel your subscription, simply email support@instructorlive.com or send us a message on Facebook Messenger with your email address and name and we will take care of the rest for you.
Can I cancel my subscription at any time?
We’re sorry to hear that you’re thinking of leaving us. Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time. Just please ensure you contact us to cancel your plan at least three days before your billing date to ensure you are not charged for the next month.
To cancel your subscription, simply email support@instructorlive.com or send us a message on Facebook Messenger with your email address and name and we will take care of the rest for you.
How do I cancel my subscription?
To cancel your subscription, simply email support@instructorlive.com or send us a message on Facebook Messenger with your email address and name and we will take care of the rest for you.
How can I contact InstructorLive?
You can contact the InstructorLive Support Team on support@instructorlive.com or via Facebook Messenger at any time. We will respond to you Monday to Friday between 8am-6pm.
You can get your health and fitness questions answered via our Ask Austin Live feature on InstructorLive.com or via Facebook Messenger at any time. We will respond to you Monday to Friday between 8am-6pm.
If you reach out to us outside of business hours, we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What extras features are available through my InstructorLive membership/subscription?
InstructorLive offers a range of vitamins and supplements to add to your daily routine and to get the very best out of your workouts. These are additional options and prices are listed.
FIT CLUB is our latest feature and is available only to full subscription members. It is hosted on Facebook via a private group exclusive to InstructorLive full members. Here you can enjoy a community feel, LIVE classes and discussions as well as access to new on-demand workouts before they are released on InstructorLive.com. If you are thinking of joining FIT CLUB but do not use Facebook, please get in touch and we will be happy to help you with instructions on how to create a Facebook account.
AIRPLAY. Using ‘Ariplay’ gives you the ability to play your workouts via your TV. You can do this using screen mirroring, chrome cast or via HDMI cable.
You can also get involved with some of the health and fitness challenges we hold every year. We have recently had great success with ‘January Shred Challenge 30-day Challenge’ and ‘Combat Your Fat 28-day Challenge’
How do I change my bank details?
To edit your details, including your contact details and bank account, you go to the edit profile at the top right-hand corner of InstructorLive when ensuring you are logged in.
If you have trouble finding your profile and updating your details, please get in touch with our Support Team via support@instructorlive.com and we will do this for you.
I’ve never worked out before, what support does InstructorLive offer?
InstructorLive is for everyone from beginners to advanced to underlying health conditions. We believe that fitness should be enjoyed by everyone which is why we have programmes for all levels of fitness that vary from 10 minutes in duration through to one-hour workouts.
The way the InstructorLive programmes are designed means you can take things at your own pace. We are always on hand to support you through your fitness journey and answer any questions you may have regarding your health, workouts or membership. So feel free to reach out to us at any time for support, advice or tips and tricks.
You can do this in a number of ways, including:
Ask Austin: If you have a question about a workout, need some advice or want to simply find out about our programmes, we have a live feature on the InstructorLive homepage called Ask Austin. This is located at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen in the form of a small speech bubble. At any time of the day or night, get in touch with Austin – our resident health and fitness guru – and he’ll be able to help you.
InstructorLive Support Team: Contact our Support Team on support@instructorlive.com or via Facebook Messenger at any time. We will respond to you Monday to Friday between 8am-6pm.
Articles: If you’re looking for some extra reading, motivation and support for your health and fitness journey, make sure you check out the Articles section on InstructorLive.com which is jam-packed with helpful reads across a number of topics.
How quickly will I see results when using InstructorLive?
It depends on several factors including how often you attend, what exercise you do, what you eat and drink and what your goal is. But with the correct diet, training and motivation you could start to see some positive changes within 4 weeks.
I have a condition/injury, can I still work out?
Yes, you can! In fact, we have a number of InstructorLive programmes that are specifically designed for people with injuries and conditions and have more on there way during 2021. Our team has experience creating workouts specific to injuries and conditions so feel free to get in touch with our Support Team if you have any queries.
Please note: In all instances of injuries and conditions, we recommend that before starting a new exercise regime that you speak to your doctor and get their ‘OK’ before starting anything new. It’s also strongly advised that you should prepare your body fully before exercise. Most of our workouts will include a warm-up, however, you can use the 10-minute warm-up video provided in the ‘10-minute Toning’ programme.
At Instructor Live, we have been inundated by questions on how to stay healthy, so we thought we would give you some hints and tips to keep on top of things and stay as healthy as possible. InstructorLive specialises in exercise, lifestyle choices, immune function and supplements, so here are our recommendations.
1. Keep active
If you can, go for a walk every day, get fresh air and keep moving to boost serotonin levels for mood, immunity and a good night’s sleep. Whilst outside, keep away from people as much as 10 steps if you can. Exercise helps reduce stress so try to exercise at least three times a week. We have over 70 programmes to choose from, so no excuses 😉
2. Meditation
Meditators are officially 31% less likely to catch viruses. Panicking and being stressed lowers the immune system significantly, so Meditation is an exceptional way to manage stress and immunity. Consider our class Asana Mindful Yoga with Beth.
3. Stay Connected
We sometimes hear older generations saying the internet has changed things and not so much for the better. Whilst I have short moments of agreement, this is not one of those times. We can stay connected as much as we like being online. We can Skype, Zoom, Facetime, phone call and goodness knows what. Many companies and instructors are offering online classes and meditation groups. We have never been so connected. Instructorlive is part of this movement and very much here for you during this time.
Whilst being at home, there is the temptation to stay on social media and scroll for hours. We recommend you stay connected and active through apps such as ours but to avoid extensive time on social media with much scaremongering and frightening news, keep your online time to a minimum but staying abreast of important news each day.
4. Stay Productive
Whilst staying in your jammies is a real temptation, you are best to get up, shower, walk, pick up an IL exercise stream, assign jobs to yourself, cook fresh foods, help others and think about the things you wanted to get done that you never had time for. I am going to clear out my closest although I work from home, so I will probably just work more.
5. Healthy Food
Try and keep food as nourishing and as fresh as possible. Baked bean sales are at a record high and whilst we want some practical staples we need to remain as nourished as possible. Buy up some fresh food and cook in batches to freeze, if you have space. Even buying in some frozen vegs and berries is a good way to add in your five a day.
Consider smoothies where you can buy in healthy protein powder sources, flaxseed or hempseed oils, nut butter, non-dairy-shelf stable kinds of milk, and so on. Check out our recipes here for the ultimate breakfast smoothie.
Making up batches of soup keeps you busy and is a great way to include some of your five a day. Soup can be left in the fridge for up to a week and stored successfully in the fridge.
Eggs are the most bioavailable and affordable source of protein you can get your hands on other than Whey that comes in at a whopping 100%. Please think of your neighbours and don’t buy up all of the eggs known to mankind. Check out our tasty recipe for breakfast egg muffins.
6. Drink plenty of Water
Stay hydrated. It’s lucky we have drinkable water and we won’t run out of tap water, so please don’t think we are preaching to you about having to have clean water. If you can filter your water, this is a better option but if not, no biggie for the time being. However, unfortunately, a lot of tap water contains toxins such as chlorine, fluoride, aluminum, nitrates, insecticides, herbicides, prescription medications, and more. Please bear in mind caffeinated drinks such as green tea, black tea, coffee will dehydrate you – so top on water accordingly.
7. Give Back
We know everyone will be worried about income, job stability, business buoyancy and so on and the government will help but also there will be ways to try and overcome this. If you have the funds check out local businesses, see if they have anything on offer. Some are asking for donations now, for something in return in the future. Check out Just Giving and Go Fund Me.
8. Support your Immune System
Many of you will be feeling a little lost and worried. Supporting your anxiety, immunity and general well-being is essential in these times. Some of you can have an under-functioning or overly sensitive immune system due to a number of factors. Those of you need to take all of the precautions, keep as isolated as is possible but also looking too good, fresh food and supplements to help modulate immune function. We have posted the supplements here, with research to back it up:
Supplements to try:
Here are some herbs, vitamins, and minerals that we highly recommend. Please know this is not to be taken as medical advice or personal consultation. Please consult your doctor before adding any new supplements to your regime.
- Probiotics; good bacteria may protect against the virus as probiotics elicit many immune responses. Although further detailed research is necessary probiotics and is expected to be among the rational adjunctive options for the treatment of various viral diseases. We love Biocare’s probiotic blend called LAB4. There’s a huge amount of research around it and can support immunity in a number of ways.
- Ashwagandha; is a wonderful adaptogenic, Ayurvedic herb for anxiety stress and immunity. It can certainly help in times of need when one is releasing extra cortisol due to the bodies ‘stress response’. We love PukkaHerbs (you may well know the teas) for this beautiful herb but they offer herbs in organic capsule and powder form also.
- Vitamin C; in megadoses (5-8 grams of vitamin C) administered before or after the appearance of a cold and flu can reduce or even prevent symptoms. We particularly like liposomal vitamin C as it stays present in the body for longer, to be utilised effectively. That said one can constantly give themselves small doses of 500mg-1gram every couple of hours and it doesn’t need to be liposomal to be good. We love Vitamin C 500mg from Biocare, liposomal vitamin C Zooki and liposomal vitamin C by Coyne Health Care.
- Vitamin D; is thought to protect against respiratory infections by boosting levels of antimicrobial peptides in the lungs (natural antibiotic-like substances). This may also explain why vitamin D may protect against asthma attacks, which are commonly triggered by respiratory viruses. We love Bio Mulsion D by Biocare as it is made water-soluble and easily absorbed (by nature fat-soluble vitamins are difficult to absorb).
- Andrographis; is a plant that is native to South Asian countries such as India and Sri Lanka and a commonly used Ayurvedic medicine. Andrographis is well known for preventing and treating the common cold and flu (influenza). Pukka produces a lovely organic Andrographis that we highly recommend.
We hope that this was helpful. Please know we are here to support you during this time, keeping you fighting fit with all your daily exercise commitments covered.
Austin – InstructorLive Trainer
Serves 3
Ingredients
600ml Water
1 Head Broccoli
1 Bag Spinach
1 Tin Cannellini Beans
Handful Coriander
4 Cloves Garlic
2 Tsp Cumin
2 Lemons
Salt and Pepper (more…)