Many think that going to the gym and having a healthy workout regimen is a young person’s game, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The world famous 96-year-old fitness guru Jack LaLanne once said, “People don’t die of old age, they die of neglect” and, to a certain extent, he’s right.

The golden years are some of the most wonderful years of anyone’s life and the best time NOT to slow down but, actually, to keep staying healthy. Although it can be very difficult for many seniors to get back to a normal workout routine, following some simple steps can make it easy for any Baby Boomer to get back into the swing of things.

First and foremost, no matter if you’re 18 or 80, the most important thing to do when working out is to stretch. Even though stretching can sometimes be ignored, for seniors, it is of the utmost importance. Stretching helps to keep the body flexible and loose before the strain of a good workout.

Some great stretching exercises for people over 65 put the priority where it’s needed: The neck and upper back. For these occasional trouble areas, it’s best to be standing while pulling your shoulders back with hands clasped and rotating the head around. This simple neck stretch helps to loosen up the neck, shoulders and upper back for the upcoming workout and helps to reduce soreness, which can happen later on.

Now that you’ve gotten a good stretch in, it’s time to get to work. Exercises for older adults can be broken down into three different but connected categories: Strength, balance and endurance. Each push the body to their limits and help to create a balanced and steady workout.

For strength training, it’s best to incorporate the simple “arm raise” which helps to strengthen your arms and shoulders. To do this, all you need to do is sit in a chair with your feet flat. Put your arms straight down at your sides and then raise them up to your shoulders and hold for a moment. Do this in sets of 8-15 (even adding some weight can help make a great difference when it comes to strength).

As for balance training (which can help to prevent falling), some great exercises work hand-in-hand with endurance training. Walking, light running and working out the lower body/core and increasing its strength can really help to build/maintain balance. Another advantage of this type of workout: Treadmills and ellipticals are also great tools for obtaining a workout from the comfort of your own home.

By following these simple guidelines, it’s easy for any Baby Boomer to make working out a more enjoyable experience no matter their age and, most importantly, it helps to keep the golden years just a little bit more…golden!

Jim Rollince is a member of the creative writing department at Gym Source, a distributor of home gyms, including treadmills, ellipticals, arc trainers, bikes and more.