The benefits of exercise for those in retirement is well documented – it can help regulate mood, manage stress and increase self-esteem. In addition, it’s been proven that exercising regularly in retirement can prevent disease and help improve blood circulation. It also helps keep bones strong and improves balance which helps lessen the chance of a fall. A simple, brisk walk is a fantastic start to getting moving and benefitting your retirement experience. LifeCare Residences’ communities both indoors and outdoors. Spending time outdoors can be responsible for many measurable beneficial changes in the body and the power that green space provides as a force for good has never been more apparent or more important during the Covid pandemic. All LifeCare Residences’ communities benefit from easy access to outside space. Although situated in the heart of London, residents at luxury retirement community Battersea Place are able enjoy the dual benefits of an onsite garden, as well as the beauty of 200 acres of wide-open space of Battersea Park; the latter provides an ideal setting for a brisk walk or gentle stroll in the lovely gardens or a spot of tennis, boules, bowls or croquet. Grove Place, a beautiful retirement community set in the rural Hampshire countryside, provides access not only to spectacular grounds, but also borders the beautifully wild New Forest, a haven for dog walkers and nature enthusiasts alike. It doesn’t stop there. For those keen to get more actively involved outdoors, residents at Grove Place are able to enjoy the beautifully tended croquet lawns and the immaculate nine-hole putting green or even turn their hand to a spot of gardening. At Somerleigh Court in Dorchester, Dorset, residents are right on the doorstep of Borough Gardens, a beautiful 19th century park laid out to the design of William Goldring – who was the brain behind Kew Gardens. Residents are able to access the adult fitness equipment at the park as well as the four tennis courts. Both Battersea Place and Grove Place boast well-equipped, indoor gyms and heated, indoor swimming pools which are only available for the exclusive use of residents and their families. Residents at Battersea Place are able to take part in onsite physical activities such as regular Pilates, ballet, reiki and meditation classes which are held in the gym. At Grove Place, near Romsey in Hampshire, residents are able to benefit from the services of a dedicated fitness trainer, Dan. During lockdown, Dan, has co-ordinated outdoor, socially distanced exercises on the lawn and in the carpark. During more normal times, without the Covid restrictions in place, Dan offers personal training and aquarobics which are popular with the residents. Strength training has been proven to reduce symptoms of many chronic disease such as arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, back pain and depression. In addition, the residents-only gym at Battersea Place has been kitted out with specialist HUR SmartTouch gym equipment which can be tailored to a resident’s personal specifications. All adults experience some level of muscle loss and the ageing process compromises muscle cells’ ability to repair damage. However, research has shown that even into your late 80s, your body still has the potential to build muscle mass which can play a major factor in falls which is why the HUR SmartTouch is an ideal piece of equipment to aid strength training in older age.