Too often, upon retirement, a person coming straight out of the workforce who is active and alert will deteriorate physically and mentally. The same process happens to ones that are not so active. There are factors that need to be considered once an individual is getting old. Their muscle strength diminishes with age, they are not sufficiently being used so they decrease in power. Cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases are often present and rest

The slowing down process can trigger a negative cycle that some experts have called it the “stress syndrome”. The less you do the worse you feel but with exercise this can change (Marshall, 1993). When people exercise they know the muscles are conditioned to perform tasks he/she asks them to do. This is very important to ones mood, self-esteem and confidence. An increase in weakness is associated with depression. A positive attitude can also be linked to a class of hormone like substances called endorphins. These “feel good” chemicals are thought to be manufactured by the body in a variety of circumstances such as exercise. They are dumped into the blood stream and travel to the brain where they attach to receptors, here they provide a natural stimulation. Also when people are exercising they are taking time out from the stresses and strains of daily life so their mind floats freely and experiences a calming effect (Rippe,1996). Physical activity is an excellent way to treat and prevent mental health problems, physical activity seems comparable to psychotherapy for treating milder cases of anxiety and depression (Kobran, 1990). The activity must be long enough to create mild to moderate physical stress, this will make people feel good about themselves so the body and mind work together.

Using muscles daily and exercising will help maintain a lot of bodily functions, especially strength. There are many activities the elderly can maintain a healthy life, some consist of lifting small objects, pushing a vacuum, a wheelchair, walking, cycling, climbing stairs, water exercise, golf etc. The best place to start to prevent premature degeneration of muscles and joints is stretching. Breathe deeply and moving every joint is very important. Flexibility is an important component because it helps prevent injury and many of the aches and pains associated with aging. It is important to maintain an attractive posture and efficient movement for daily life. A person should regularly do bends, twists, and extensions of the arms and legs slowly and rhythmically with a smooth firm motion. The individual should stretch as far as it is comfortable to do so to hold the stretch without bouncing for five to fifteen seconds. Correct breathing techniques will increase the amount of oxygen in the blood, keeping the chest muscles flexible and promotes relaxation. Some stretch exercises consist of shoulder releases where the individual shrugs his/her shoulders up toward the ears and rotate in one direction slowly making a few rotations (Stutz, 1994). Other stretches include neck movements, hand and finger movements, ankle rotations, arm stretch, hip, trunk, hamstring and side bends. Exercises are very important but it is also vital that they are fairly easy for

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