3 Morning Exercises That Address Stiffness Better Than a Hot Shower After 60

Most of us love a hot shower to loosen up a stiff body in the morning, and there’s a reason it feels so good. The heat from the water increases skin temperature and causes blood vessels near the surface of the body to expand. This can increase circulation, reduce the sensation of stiffness, or help your muscles and joints just feel more comfortable.

Your heart rate may even increase slightly as your body works to regulate the additional heat. But there’s one important limitation. A hot shower primarily warms your body from the outside in, where exercise warms your body from the inside out.

When your muscles begin contracting, they use energy, and much of that energy is released as heat. As more muscles become involved, your internal temperature gradually increases, your heart begins pumping faster, circulation improves, and more oxygen and nutrients are delivered throughout the body. This is one reason movement can be so effective first thing in the morning.

During sleep, body temperature naturally decreases, heart rate slows, circulation changes, and the body remains relatively still for several hours. That can contrib...