It's Not Too Late To Learn Yoga For Seniors

Yoga, a way of exercise that targets the body and the mind, is deeply rooted in the Indian past and tradition. But now it is pretty popular amongst Americans as well. It is particularly beneficial for seniors if they are looking forward to rejuvenating not only their bodies but also their minds.

Moreover, it can be mastered at any age as yoga for seniors is not labor-intensive, nor is it exhaustive. 30 to 40 minutes daily and a senior can master Yoga with perfection.

Good for their overall health, Yoga also targets all types of illnesses, if any, such as heart conditions or a simple fever. Yoga poses indeed work like magic, and there are some specific postures that are particularly targeted at seniors.

Why Yoga is The Perfect Way to Rejuvenate Your Body?

For a body to perform well, it needs to be stress-free and relaxed. Yoga does exactly that by making your stress go away with its healing power.

This is why, all unanimously agree that Yoga is the best way to rejuvenate a senior’s body. Here is how it can help a senior:

It Improves a Senior’s Flexibility and Balance

We all know that with age, we tend to lose our flexibility and are often in need of balance. This is pretty evident when we hear stories of seniors tripping or falling down, even in plane walkaways.

A good way to counteract that is through Yoga, as Yoga poses help the body stretch and become more adaptable and flexible. Since one also needs to hold a Yoga pose for a minute or two, it also positively impacts a senior’s balance power.

Strengthens Muscles and Joints

Seniors often complain of joint pain and muscle pain because, with time, our body tends to lose muscle mass and become weak. However, with Yoga, it is designed to make the senior’s body endurable. There are various Yoga poses that target improving muscle strength and joint health.

Enhances Respiratory Function

Have you ever closely observed how Yoga is performed? Well, it does not only involve bending your body but also taking deep and controlled breaths, inhaling, and exhaling properly.

Now, seniors can face deteriorating lung function and have difficulty in breathing-related activities. To help combat this, Yoga is performed to boost respiratory function and lung capacity.

Manage chronic pain

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Relaxes Your Body

While cardio exercises can sweat you out, Yoga can relax your body from the very start. With proper Yoga practices, a senior’s mind will release all the right hormones that will reduce stress and anxiety. They will feel more uplifted and happy in their day-to-day life.

Yoga for Seniors- How Can You Master It At Any Age?

Now, if you think Yoga is only meant for the younger population, you are wrong. Since Yoga is a slow and steady practice, it can be mastered at any age, whether you are 55 or above 80.

With proper guidance and knowledge, Yoga can be learned easily at one’s ease and desired pace. Here is how a senior can ace it at any age:

Practicing Yoga Daily

To excel in anything, we need to practice that daily. The same applies to Yoga, whether you are young or senior.

Practice makes it perfect; hence, practice Yoga daily for around 40 to 50 minutes. Start slowly, and once you are confident, you can increase the duration of holding your postures.

Practicing Yoga in The Open

It is said that our body requires a conducive environment to feel happy. While Yoga can provide relaxation and happiness, it also needs to be done in an appropriate environment. What is a better place than a green stretch of a lawn or a garden?

Moreover, practice it early in the morning so that the sun remains gentle and the air remains cool. Let the fresh morning air fill up your lungs, and let Yoga do all its magic!

Practicing Under an Expert

While Yoga can be self-learned, it would still be wise to be guided by an expert, especially at the beginning of your learning curve.

They have considerable amounts of expertise and experience, and they would know better what works for you and what doesn’t. Moreover, they can correct you if you are performing any of the Yoga postures incorrectly.

Joining a Yoga Group

The positive effect of yoga for seniors can be doubled when a senior has a positive interaction with a Yoga group and feels a part of a community. There are several Yoga groups today that are particularly meant for seniors.

Practicing them together with other people will make a senior feel encouraged and the motivation to be consistent. They will also have more fun.

Best Yoga Poses For Seniors

Now, coming to the poses, here are the best Yoga poses that suit a senior perfectly:

Mountain Pose or Tadasana

Coming to this first pose is an excellent one for improving a senior’s posture, balance, and stability. It works by strengthening the legs and then engaging the core.

This posture can be easily performed by anyone who is a senior by putting their feet all the way together or a little bit apart, pressing strongly with their soles of the feet and lifting strongly with their head.

Seated Forward Bend or Paschimottanasana

For this third pose, all you need to do is sit on the floor or in a chair. After that, slowly stretch your legs and then bend forward gently from the hips while reaching for your toes. This position really works well in developing the hamstrings which joins the two muscle groups.

Cat-Cow Pose or Marjaryasana-Bitilasana

To do this posture, start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position. Inhaling, you should arch your back, lifting the tailbone and head. Exhaling, they round the spine, tucking the chin towards the chest. This gentle flow between poses help seniors improve their mobility.

Conclusion

To sum it up, yoga for seniors has multiple benefits for seniors, such as promoting relaxation, improving balance, etc. It can also be mastered at any age practically just by following a routine habit or taking the help of an expert.

Lastly, Yoga poses like the cat-cow pose or the mountain pose can be greatly helpful for a senior to strengthen their body.

It's Not Too Late To Learn Yoga For Seniors

Why Yoga is The Perfect Way to Rejuvenate Your Body?