High-intensity workouts and heavy lifting can be great for building strength, but they aren't for everyone. Whether you are returning to exercise after a break, recovering from an injury, or just like to be gentle on your joints, you can still get stronger and more mobile without pushing your body too hard.

“Having a strong, healthy body is important at every age, but especially as we get older,” says Bay Club yoga and Pilates instructor Elma Panagaki. “Working on our mobility, both strength and flexibility, is the key to longevity. Through movement, we release tension from the body, relax the mind, support the joints, improve stability and balance, and create a bigger range of motion for a better life.”

Panagaki is a big believer in chair-based exercises, which target the muscles that m

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