As the years go by, staying on top of your physical fitness should be a top priority.

This natural change that occurs as you grow older is known as sarcopenia.

Consider strength training your new best friend.

mature woman demonstrating leg press to regain muscle mass as you age

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Strength training can help you maintain bone densitywhich lowers your risk of developing osteoporosisandpreserve muscle strengthand tissue.

What’s not to love about all of that healthy fitness goodness?

When selecting just the right strength exercises, opt for a combo of both machines and free weights.

machine leg press

Tim Liu, C.S.C.S.

Machines are great because they help you maintain form and tension in just the right muscles.

Without further delay, here are five easy strength exercises you should start doing pronto.

Press the weight up, then pull the switches to unlock the machine.

seated row part of workout to lead an incredibly healthy lifestyle

Tim Liu, C.S.C.S.

Pull the handle out, then completely straighten out your legs.

Straighten your arms, and get a good stretch in your shoulder blades before performing another rep. You should be holding a dumbbell in each hand.

Press the weights straight up above your body with your arms completely extended.

incline dumbbell bench press

Tim Liu, C.S.C.S.

Start by dragging your heels toward your body, flexing your hamstrings hard to finish.

Lower the weight using control, maintaining tension in your hamstrings until your legs are fully extended.

Resist on the way back down until your arms are totally straightened, maintaining tension the entire time.

machine lying leg curl

Tim Liu, C.S.C.S.

Perform 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps.

dumbbell 21 curls

Tim Liu, C.S.C.S.