Yoga for Seniors

In the minds of many, there is a natural connection between aging and a generally poor state of health. While youth is associated with vitality, it is considered inevitable that as we grow older our energy and vigor will be slowly sapped away by the ravages of time. According to this narrative, in old age nature is turned on its head – the same living forces that animated us when we are young will desert and abandon us as we approach our twilight years.

Total Workout for Mind, Body, & Spirit

The story of how we lose our health as we age is a story of how the interrelated aspects of our being reinforce each other in a cycle of decline. Our minds and bodies lose their edge, and our spirits are dimmed as a result; which discourages us and leads to inactivity that allows our minds and bodies to degenerate even further, which dims our spirit even more, ad infinitum. While there are certain activities, such as exercise or mentally-challenging puzzles, which can play a helpful role in the process of restoring what has been lost, in order to make a complete return to a healthful state of being it is necessary to involve mind, body and spirit all together in a comprehensive approach.

Yoga is an activity that engages all three of these elements in a highly synchronized way. Featuring controlled breathing and body movement, the practice of yoga can help anyone cultivate a more stable and balanced state of existence. Yoga is just the kind of activity than can help begin the process of detoxifying the mind, body and spirit together, and with faithful practice yoga has the potential to open up a whole new world of good health to anyone, including seniors.

What Can Yoga Do For Seniors?

Some of the positive health benefits of yoga practice include:

• Improved sleep
• Relief from arthritis
• Relief of symptoms of fibromyalgia
• Lowering of blood sugar levels in diabetics
• Reduction of hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Reversing heart disease
• Control of weight gain
• Stress and anxiety relief
• Reduction of chronic pain
• Alleviation of breathing problems such as asthma

This is a diverse list of positive effects; but this is not speculation, as all of these benefits have been demonstrated in scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals.

What are the Best Yoga Positions for Seniors?

It is easy to find yoga asanas that are appropriate for seniors. There are many Internet sites that give illustrated examples of yoga poses for seniors, along with detailed instructions on how to perform them properly. Of course there are also many books, and videos that can be viewed online as well, including some that concentrate on practice for seniors. Classes taught by qualified instructors are a good choice because you can get valuable feedback on proper techniques, as well as extra motivation from being in class with others. Ultimately, the choice of specific poses and breathing strategies is probably going to involve a good deal of trial and error, as each individual has different needs and capabilities.

Precautions for Seniors Practicing Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful activity for increasing blood circulation, joint flexibility, strengthening bone and muscle, and bringing relief from accumulated tensions both physical and mental. Nevertheless, there are certain precautions seniors must take when practicing yoga. Seniors should never:

• Perform full head rotations
• Hold the breath for extended periods
• Practice poses which put the head below heart level
• Stretch to the point of pain
• Allow the tongue to roll back in the mouth when in a relaxed state
• Eat a heavy meal before beginning a routine

Generally speaking, the most important precaution is simply to make sure that your practice is always comfortable, and that you never try to push yourself beyond your limits.

Your Miracle Drug

The documented health benefits associated with yoga are too numerous to list. For seniors, yoga can be like a miracle drug, with so many positive effects that it can literally help seniors get their lives back again. If you are a senior, and you are looking for ways to participate more actively in the preservation of your own health, yoga is something that you owe it to yourself to investigate.

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Publish Date: Tue, 02/01/2011 - 13:26
Categories: Exercise, Yoga