Yoga is one of the best forms of exercise for older adults. With the right classes, seniors can improve their flexibility and balance, increase their strength, and boost their mood. Research has shown that yoga can reduce chronic inflammation, which can improve flexibility and mobility. It can also help reduce stress, improve bone health, and increase willpower.
Practicing poses that emphasize standing and maintaining balance can also help build strength and confidence. Chair yoga is ideal for those who can't stand for long periods of time or who can't work on a rug. Yoga cultivates a connection between mind and body, combining stretching and strengthening poses with deep breathing and relaxation. Whether you want to get stronger and more flexible, or you just want to relax and calm your mind, yoga can help.
Despite its roots in Eastern philosophy, yoga, as practiced in the West, generally focuses on physical fitness. Viniyoga and Kripalu yoga are relatively gentle styles that may be appropriate for people with health problems. By practicing yoga's breath control techniques (known as pranayama), you can expand the capacity of your lungs and improve your respiratory health. It also provides information on basic poses and explains what you should do before starting any yoga routine.
Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults; every 11 seconds, an older adult visits the emergency room for treatment related to a fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yoga gives you the tools now to prevent a bad fall, so you can keep moving at age 80.To get started with yoga, tell your provider that you would like to try gentle yoga that consists of simple movements, stretches, and breathing practices. Written by the co-founders of the blog Yoga for Healthy Aging, this book offers information on how yoga can help older adults improve their flexibility, strength, agility, balance and more. In addition, Yoga for Seniors offers a directory of instructors who have received special training so that they can adapt yoga programs specifically for older adults.Yoga could be the key to aging well, suggests a growing body of research on its potential benefits for the body and mind, including reducing heart rate and blood pressure, relieving anxiety and depression, and relieving back pain.
To relax after a session of yoga poses, lie on your back with a pillow under your head, with your eyes closed. Let your feet extend to the sides. Rest your arms along your body with your palms facing up. Then relax, surrender to the floor and take a deep breath.Applications are now open for the AARP Purpose Award which honors people age 50 and older who take advantage of life's experience to build a better future.
You can save on eye exams, prescriptions, hearing aids and more. Yoga's combination of breathing, meditation, and movement creates an overall sense of well-being. In fact, studies show that yoga has a greater impact on improving mood and reducing anxiety than other forms of exercise.
Leave Message