Workout to Go

A Sample Exercise Routine from the 

National Institute on Aging at NIH
i
Workout to Go Are you just starting to exercise? Getting back into a routine after a break? Wanting to keep up your physical activities away from home? The 13 exercises in this sample workout can help. In this booklet, you’ll fi nd easy-to-follow strength, balance, and fl exibility exercises that you can do anytime, anywhere.One of the great things about physical activity is that there are so many ways to be active. This workout is only one of them. The secret to success is to be creative, fi nd activities you enjoy, and keep going.This sample workout is part of Go4Life, an outreach campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH to help you fi t exercise and 
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Get Ready Before you begin, here are a few things to keep in mind. 

■ Safety always comes first.

If you haven’t had regular checkups, you might want to talk with your doctor about your workout plans. Ask if there are any reasons to modify your program or adjust the exercises to do them safely. Always listen to your body and do what you can as long as you’re comfortable
Get SetFor the workout, you’ll need two tennis balls, a sturdy chair with arms, a towel, and two equally weighted objects—like hand or wrist weights, soup cans, or water bottles. You may need to use 1- or 2-pound weights when starting out. As the exercises become easier, gradually add more weight.You will start the sample workout by warming up. Then, move on to the strength and balance exercises. For each exercise, we show one set of 10-15 repetitions. Try doing 3 sets, and then cool down with the fl exibility exercises.What You Need

WHAT YOU NEED
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Safety Tips

■ Breathe regularly during strength exercises.

For example, breathe out as you lift the weight, and breathe in as you relax. When doing leg lifts, breathe out as you lift your leg and breathe in as you lower it.

■ Use smooth, steady movements when lifting weights. 

To prevent injury, don’t jerk or thrust weights into position.

■ Keep your arm and leg joints slightly bent.

Avoid “locking” your arm and leg joints in a tightly straightened position.

■ Choose a sturdy chair with arms. 

Make sure the chair is stable enough to support you when seated or when holding on during the exercise.

■ Make slow, steady movements.

Never “bounce” into a stretch. 

■ Always bend forward from the hips, not the waist.

If you keep your back straight, you’re bending the right way.

■ Stop if you feel pain.

You might feel some soreness after you exercise, but 
WARM UP 

It’s important to spend about 5 minutes at the beginning of your routine to warm up. Warming up gives your muscles a chance to get ready to work. Warm-up activities can help you prevent injury and reduce muscle soreness later. Suggestions

■ Take a walk.■ Ride a bike.■ Dance around your living room or kitchen.■ Walk up and down the stairs a few times.
5 STRENGTH

STRENGTH EXERCISES

Hand Grip

1 Hold a tennis ball in each hand.

2 Slowly squeeze the ball as hard as you can and hold it 

for 3-5 seconds.

3 Relax the squeeze slowly.

4 Repeat 10-15 times.
Wall Push-Up 

1 Face a wall, standing a little farther than arm’s length 

away, feet shoulder-width apart.

2 Lean forward and put your palms flat against the wall 

at shoulder height and shoulder-width apart.

3 Slowly bend your elbows and lower your upper body 

toward the wall. Keep your feet flat on the floor.

4 Hold the position for 1 second.

5 Slowly push yourself back until your arms are straight.

6 Repeat 10-15 times.
7 STRENGTH

Overhead Arm Raise You can do this exercise while standing or sitting with your feet fl at on the fl oor, shoulder-width apart.

1 Hold weights at your sides at shoulder height with 

palms facing forward.

2 Slowly raise both arms up over your head keeping 

your elbows slightly bent.

3 Hold the position for 1 second.

4 Slowly lower your arms.

5 Repeat 10-15 times.

TIP: As you progress, use a heavier weight 

and alternate arms until you can lift the weight comfortably with both arms.

✓
Back Leg Raise

1 Stand behind a sturdy chair, holding on for balance.

2 Slowly lift one leg straight back without bending your 

knee or pointing your toes. Try not to lean forward. The leg you’re standing on should be slightly bent.

3 Hold the position for 1 second.

4 Slowly lower your leg.

5 Repeat 10-15 times. 

6 Repeat 10-15 times with the other leg.

TIP: As you progress, you may want to add 

ankle weights. You also can challenge yourself to improve your balance (see page 14).

✓
9 STRENGTH

Side Leg Raise

1 Stand behind a sturdy chair, holding on for balance.

2 Slowly lift one leg out to the side. Keep your back 

straight and your toes facing forward. The leg you’re standing on should be slightly bent.

3 Hold the position for 1 second.

4 Slowly lower your leg.

5 Repeat 10-15 times.

6 Repeat 10-15 times with the other leg.

TIP: As you progress, you may want to add ankle 

weights. You also can challenge yourself to improve your balance (see page 14).

✓
Toe Stand

1 Stand behind a sturdy chair, feet shoulder-width apart, 

holding on for balance.

2 Slowly stand on tiptoes as high as possible.

3 Hold the position for 1 second.

4 Slowly lower heels to the fl oor.

5 Repeat 10-15 times.

TIP: As you progress, try doing the exercise standing 

on one leg at a time for a total of 10-15 times on each leg. You also can challenge yourself to improve your balance (see page 14).

✓
11

Stand on One Foot

1 Stand on one foot behind a sturdy chair, holding on 

for balance.

2 Hold the position for 10 seconds.

3 Repeat 10-15 times.

4 Repeat 10-15 times with the other leg.

TIP: As you progress, you can also challenge 

yourself to improve your balance (see page 14).

✓

BALANCE EXERCISES
Heel-to-Toe WalkIf you are unsteady on your feet, try doing this exercise near a wall so you can steady yourself if you need to.

1 Place the heel of one foot just in front of the toes of 

the other foot so that they touch or almost touch. Raise arms to your sides, shoulder height.

2 Choose a spot ahead of you and focus on it to keep 

you steady as you walk.

3 Take a step. Put your heel just in front of your other foot.

4 Repeat for 20 steps. 
13 BALANCE

TIP: As you progress, try looking from side to side 

as you walk, but skip this step if you have innerear problems.

✓

Balance Walk

1 Raise arms to your sides, shoulder height.

2 Choose a spot ahead of you and focus on it to keep 

you steady as you walk.

3 Walk in a straight line with one foot in front of the other.

4 As you walk, lift your back leg. Pause for 1 second 

before stepping forward.

5 Repeat for 20 steps.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO IMPROVE YOUR BALANCEExercises to strengthen your legs and ankles also can help improve your balance. As you progress, try adding these challenges to help even more. 

■ Start by holding on to a study chair with both 

hands for support. 

■ To challenge yourself further, try holding on 

with only one hand. 

■ As you feel steady, use just one fi nger for balance, 

or try the exercises without holding on. 

■ When you are steady on your feet, try doing the 

exercises with your eyes closed.
15 FLEXIBILITY

FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES

Ankles 

1 Sit securely toward the edge of a sturdy chair.

2 Stretch your legs out in front of you.

3 With your heels on the floor, bend your ankles to point 

toes toward you.

4 Hold the position for 10-30 seconds.

5 Bend ankles to point toes away from you and hold for 

10-30 seconds.

6 Repeat 3-5 times. 

COOL DOWN 

Cooling down at the end of your workout gives your muscles a chance to gradually return to rest. Again, this is important to prevent injury. To cool down, take about 5 minutes to do the following 4 flexibility exercises. 
Back If you’ve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch.

1 Sit toward the front of a sturdy chair with armrests, 

with your feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Stay as straight as possible. 

2 Slowly twist to the left from your waist without moving your hips. Turn your head to the left. Lift your left 

hand and hold on to the left arm of the chair. Place your right hand on the outside of your left thigh. 

3 Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. Slowly return to 

face forward.

4 Repeat 3-5 times. Reverse positions and repeat 3-5 

times on the right side.

TIP: As you progress, try lifting your left arm and 

resting it comfortably on the back of the chair. Hold on to the left armrest with your right arm. Repeat on your right side.

✓
17 FLEXIBILITY

ThighIf you’ve had hip or back surgery, talk with your doctor before doing this stretch.

1 Stand behind a sturdy chair with your feet shoulderwidth apart and knees straight, but not locked.

2 Hold on to the chair for balance with your right hand.

3 Bend your left leg back and grab your foot in your left 

hand. Keep your knee pointed to the fl oor. If you can’t grab your ankle, loop a resistance band, belt, or towel around your foot and hold both ends.

4 Gently pull your leg until you feel a stretch in your thigh.

5 Hold the position for 10-30 seconds.

6 Repeat 3-5 times.

7 Repeat 3-5 times with your right leg.
TIP: As you progress, try pulling the towel down 

farther, but not so far that it hurts.

✓

 Shoulder and Upper Arm If you have shoulder problems, talk with your doctor before trying this stretch.

1 Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.

2 Hold one end of a towel in your right hand.

3 Raise and bend your right arm to drape the towel 

down your back. 

4 Reach behind your lower back and grasp the towel 

with your left hand.

5 Pull the towel down with your left hand. Stop when 

you feel a stretch in your right shoulder.

6 Repeat 3-5 times.

7 Reverse positions and repeat 3-5 times to stretch your 

left shoulder.
19 FLEXIBILITY

PROGRESSING 

You should begin to feel stronger and more energetic once you start exercising regularly. The exercises will get easier. This tells you that your body is getting used to a higher level of activity, and it’s time to build on those benefi ts by doing more. Gradually increase the amount of weight you use to build strength, try some of the challenges on page 14 to improve your balance, or reach farther in your stretching exercises.Don’t forget to congratulate yourself on your efforts. You’ve made great progress and you’re ready to do more!
Find Out MoreFor more information on how to exercise safely, check out the following FREE resources from Go4Life, the exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH. 

■ Visit the Go4Life website at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life

Be part of the Go4Life Team. Use My Go4Life to make your own exercise plan and track your progress, share your success story, and check out other free resources. 

■ Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide 

from the National Institute on AgingThis easy-to-read print book, available in English and Spanish, has additional sample exercises, worksheets to help you track your progress, tips on healthy eating, real-life success stories, and more ideas to encourage you to exercise safely and build up the benefi ts.
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I love living life to its fullest, but with my family 

responsibilities and my volunteer work, life can get pretty hectic. This wonderful Go4Life resource helps me stay fi t and exercise safely. And what’s great is 

I can do these exercises wherever I happen to be.” 

—Pat Lynch, age 60 

“As a doctor, I’m an ardent believer in exercise and 

eating well. Several years ago, I started doing daily 

strength and balance exercises as recommended 

in the exercise guide from the National Institute 

on Aging at NIH. These simple exercises help me 

maintain my active lifestyle.” 

—Samarendra Dutta, MD, PhD, age 87

Publication No. 11-4258

Reprinted March 2015

National Instituteon Aging