It’s no secret that living an active life is important for your overall health. But some circumstances can make exercise more difficult for people. If you’ve been in an accident, have extra weight, or just have weak joints, exercising can see daunting and even impossible.

We don’t want you to feel intimidated by the thought of exercising or fear that it will bring you pain, so we’ve come up with this list of low impact exercises that will help you on your journey to healthier living.

Swimming

Swimming is a great low impact exercise that can keep your heart rate up and help you build your endurance and muscle strength. Head on over to your local aquatic center or a nearby lake (while it’s still warm out) and have fun with it!

Swimming doesn’t just have to be back and forth laps in a pool. You can play pool games with your kids, try water polo, or do some water aerobics!

Here are some great benefits that swimming offers:

  • Low impact (of course)
  • Weight loss
  • Lowers stress levels
  • No sweat exercise!
  • Increases energy levels
  • Cool off on a hot day

Cycling

Whether you are on a bike in the great outdoors or breaking a sweat on a cycling machine at the gym, this is another awesome low impact exercise you might enjoy. Because the bike is holding your weight, this workout helps keep the stress of your joints.

Cycling doesn’t even have to feel like exercise. Simply take your own bike out for a leisurely ride to enjoy the local parks, go on a family bike ride, and enjoy nature around you. You’ll be having fun while experiencing the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Other benefits of cycling include:

  • Improved joint mobility
  • Improved posture
  • Better coordination
  • Bone strengthening
  • Decreased stress levels
  • Better muscle strength

Rowing

If you have access to a gym (or a rowboat and body of water), then rowing could be a great low impact exercise option for you. Rowing is a full-body workout that keeps the weight off of your joints.

Benefits of rowing include:

  • Muscle strengthening
  • Low impact cardio
  • Increased endurance
  • Better heart and lung health

Walking

Don’t underestimate the power of walking. We do it every day - around the house, at the store, from our car into work. But it can also be a very effective exercise option.

A lot of people think walking is boring, but if you’re looking for a no-cost and low impact workout, there are plenty of ways to make it more interesting. Go on a nature trail, walk to a park, take your dog for a walk, walk to your favorite nearby restaurant for date night.

Some great benefits of walking for exercise are:

  • Burn calories
  • Improved heart health
  • Ease joint pain
  • Boost your energy
  • Improve your mood
  • Lowers blood sugar

Yoga

This final exercise on our list is a wonderful low impact exercise that has tons of other benefits. Yoga is fun to do alone in your living room or in a studio with your friends. Find a local yoga class or pull up some YouTube videos each morning before work. Even 15 minutes a day can be super helpful. If you’re new to yoga, try pulling up “yoga for beginners” and take it at your own pace.

These are some of the awesome benefits yoga can offer you:

  • Increased flexibility
  • Decreased stress levels
  • Protection from injury
  • Weight loss
  • Muscle strengthening
  • Improved cardiovascular health
  • Improved metabolic health

The next time you turn down the opportunity to exercise from fear of hurting your joints, give one of these a try. Your body will thank you.