Energetic and Lively! Sing-and-Exercise Program for Seniors
Exercise is essential for good health, but as we become adults, many of us have fewer opportunities to be physically active, don’t we?
And I imagine there are also fewer chances to sing out loud.
For people like that, we recommend a wonderful routine that lets you do both at the same time!
In this article, we’ll introduce exercises for older adults that let you move your body while singing.
Please consider incorporating them into day services and other care facilities.
Of course, you can enjoy them while seated as well.
Move and sing together, and have a great time!
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
- [For Seniors] Simple Rhythm Exercises: Recommended Songs and Routines
- [For Seniors] Have Fun and Relieve Stress! Introducing Dances Everyone Can Enjoy Together
- [For Seniors] Songs Everyone Can Sing Together! A Roundup of Recommended Crowd-Pleasers
- [For Seniors] Hand and finger play roundup: Finger exercises that lead to brain training
- For People in Their 90s: Dance Tracks and Exercise Songs That Make Moving Your Body Fun!
- [For Seniors] Fun Exercises You Can Do While Seated
- [Recommended for seniors] Rejuvenating Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise
- [Sing for your health!] Popular songs among seniors. Also recommended for recreational activities.
- [Today's Recommendation] Gentle Health Exercises for Seniors
- [For Seniors] Popular Hand-Play Songs: Fun Brain-Training Ideas
- [Brain Training for Seniors] Recommended Hand-Play Recreation for Dementia Prevention
- Ranking of popular songs for senior citizens
Energetic and Lively! Singing Exercises for Seniors (71–80)
Song Exercise
This song exercise features only songs recommended for winter.
Snow, Campfire, and North Wind Boy Kantarō—aren’t they all nostalgic tunes you heard as a child? Here we introduce a Goo-Choki-Paa exercise you can do while singing these popular children’s songs.
It can be done seated, so it’s reassuring from a safety standpoint for older adults.
Since many movements involve using both the upper and lower body, it helps strengthen you both physically and mentally.
You can also express actions like opening and closing your hands with your fingertips, which should provide good stimulation for the brain.
Rhythmic exercises to a children’s song
Rhythmic exercises set to a children’s song are a wonderful idea.
Moving your hands and feet to the tune of “Antagata Dokosa” sounds fun and sure to bring a smile.
Lifting your foot on the syllable “sa” is especially unique.
It might even help with dementia prevention.
It’s perfect for morning exercise and seems like it would be refreshing.
Since it’s a nostalgic song, the appeal is that everyone can move while singing together.
It’s great that you can enjoy it even while seated.
With the gentleness and familiarity of a children’s song, it feels like everyone can share a joyful time.
Singing out loud while moving your body just feels so good, doesn’t it?
The Hare and the Tortoisesakushi: ishihara wasaburou/sakkyoku: nojyo benjirou
“Usagi to Kame” (The Hare and the Tortoise) is a children’s song based on the Aesop fable of the same name, and it’s also included among the Ministry of Education’s songs.
An exercise set to this song is recommended for older adults because it naturally incorporates walking motions.
It’s simple: while marching in place, pull your right hand back in a fist and extend your left hand forward open, then switch sides and repeat.
Once you get used to it, try changing your hand shapes in the order of fist, scissors, and open palm (rock–paper–scissors sequence).
It quickly becomes a brain-engaging exercise! It stimulates the brain, so give it a try.
tea pickingMonbushō shōka
“Chatsumi” (Tea Picking) is a Ministry of Education children’s song that depicts tea picking in early summer.
It’s perfect for exercises that involve patting your thighs or shoulders by hand.
Because the song celebrates peaceful nature and the optimistic spirit of rural people, you’ll find yourself feeling brighter and more relaxed as you exercise.
The melody is easy to remember, so it might be nice for everyone to hum along while doing the exercises.
Give it a try!
Tankō-bushi (Coal Miner’s Song)Fukuoka ken min’yō
The folk song “Tankō Bushi,” said to have originated in Fukuoka Prefecture, is also famous as a Bon Odori dance song.
It’s familiar to many older adults, so it’s recommended as music for exercise in care facilities.
Incidentally, the song is based on the “Ida Ba-Uchi Sentan Uta,” which workers in coal mines sang in the early Meiji period to boost their morale on the job.
Following that example, it’s a good idea to use your whole body—make large arm movements as if digging coal and rotate your shoulders.
Since it was originally a work song, the lyrics and melody are motivating; doing exercises to this tune should help cultivate energy and vitality!
The Longed-For Hawaii RouteHaruo Oka
A signature song by Haruo Oka, a singer active from before to after the war, is “Akogare no Hawaii Kōro” (The Longed-for Hawaii Route), which was released in 1948 and became a huge hit.
It was also made into a film starring Oka and Hibari Misora, so many older people are likely to know it.
The choreography—stretching your arms widely up, down, left, and right, and patting your shoulders—can be done using just the upper body, making it ideal for recreational activities in care facilities.
By all means, try singing along and give the dance a go together!
Ball juggling in time with the song
“Passing the ball to the song” is a delightful exercise that lets you move your body while singing.
You pick familiar tunes—from classical to pop—and pass the ball as you sing, which makes it a lot of fun.
Moving your body to music refreshes both mind and body.
You can take part while seated, so even those who aren’t confident in their stamina can feel at ease.
Singing, laughing, and passing the ball together also deepens communication.
It’s a popular activity in facilities like day-service centers, so why not give it a try?