Yoga is a practice that you can do all your life. Many older adults find it hard to adopt a safe and low-impact exercise that they can adjust according to their fitness levels. Yoga is a great solution to that problem.
What is yoga?
Yoga is essentially a series of postures and movements that are held for a certain amount of time.
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj”, which means “to yoke”. When referring to postures, yogis often use the Sanskrit word as well: asanas. The term is used interchangeably with “posture” in the modern English language.
Yoga teaches one to move through the postures with awareness and proper alignment. It is a slow practice that helps one to be aware of body and mind. The practice of yoga for seniors can be used for preventive health care, self-healing, and relaxation.
The benefits of yoga for seniors
1. It is a gentle and easy physical activity that is suitable for any age group.
2. This ancient practice can help with posture, flexibility, breathing, muscle toning, and stress relief.
3. People who practice yoga regularly often experience improvements in their strength, endurance, mobility, and quality of sleep.
4. Yoga also helps improve cardiovascular health and flexibility, which can reduce the risk of injuries.
5. Yoga can be beneficial to both men and women. It is a safe way to exercise especially for older people who have some medical conditions but still want to remain active.
6. Yoga is also very good for people with arthritis because it increases mobility and range of motion in the joints while reducing pain and improving posture and flexibility.
How to practice yoga
There are many ways to practice yoga. The most common way is to attend a yoga class in a studio, led by an instructor who demonstrates the poses and then guides students through them.
At-home yoga can be practiced in a variety of ways. Yoga can be done on a mat, with an exercise ball or even simply sitting on the floor with crossed legs or in a chair. Many people prefer to have soft music playing while they practice at home.
Before you attend your yoga class, you should also work on your breathing so that you can make the most of the meditative aspect of this exercise. With proper breathing techniques, not only will the moves be easier to practice, but you will also feel more relaxed while doing them.
Yoga for seniors has many benefits, and is often a better choice of exercise as it is low-impact. It is a great activity to practice either alone or with a companion, and it can be adjusted according to different fitness levels!
