As we enter our golden years, this is the time when our health starts to fail us. Yoga for senior citizens is an ideal way for seniors to stay fit and fight diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis osteoporosis and others.
Yoga for senior citizens is the perfect exercise for our age bracket. It has been practiced for centuries by societies in the near East and India where seeing Yogi’s in their 70’s and 80’s is commonplace. Yoga focuses on stretching exercises, control of breath and meditation for a more holistic view of exercise than is normally incorporated in the West. And because yoga generates motion without causing strain and imbalances in the body, it is different than other forms of exercise you may have tried.
Also, the great part about Yoga is that the entire yoga regimen can be altered to fit our lifestyle at our own pace. And it is the only exercise that benefits all three aspects of physical fitness simultaneously.
Other benefits that Yoga for senior citizens include:
- An Increase in Body Awareness and Control
- Relieve Chronic Stress Patterns in The Body
- Refreshes the Body by relieving Muscle Strain
- Relaxes the Body
- Sharpens the Mind and Increases Concentration
- A great way to counter chronic pain symptoms such as those that are attributed to arthritis.
The last point is especially important for seniors, and we will elaborate on it a little. In a recent study, diabetics following a Yoga program for 40 days, done 40 minutes per day, experienced a drop in blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. The participants in the study also reported feeling calmer, more relaxed and better able to manage their weight and overcome breathing difficulties.
Beyond the physical benefits of yoga, the improvement of your mental awareness through meditation cannot be underestimated. Yoga, with its focus on meditation, teaches you how to calm and focus your mind. It will teach you how to beat stress, anxiety and depression.
We will not actually recommend a particular program for you. This will depend upon your current level of physical fitness and is really a decision for you and your doctor. However, once you get the medical clearance, a program of yoga can do wonders for your health.
