Most people believe yoga is something young flexible people do but they are wrong. Yoga has so many benefits for everyone ranging in age from toddler to seniors. Yoga for seniors can reduce symptoms and pain; it can improve overall wellness for someone with a serious or chronic illnesses. As we age our lives tend to become more sedentary and sit a lot more and forget about physical activity and the benefits it could have. One of the great things about yoga is that unlike most physical sports you can start at any age and you don't need to be physically fit or active.
Yoga has numerous benefits for people in their 50s and up:
- Provides elasticity to the spine
- Firms up skin
- Removes tension from the body
- Strengthens the abdominal muscles
- Improves overall muscle tone
- Helps with bad posture
- Breathing techniques
- Increased energy level
- Helps with pain or discomfort
- Sciatica relief
- Asthma relief
During your late 50s and early 60s, you may begin to notice that your joints aren't as fluid as they used to be. Practicing yoga regularly can help loosen joints, keeping debilitating disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis at bay. Yoga's slow, measured movements and strengthening poses can help you achieve better balance and prevent falls as you age. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults; yoga gives you the tools now to prevent a bad fall, and still have the freedom to move around. Yoga also helps with cardiovascular disease; it helps maintain a healthy blood pressure and is lower after yoga class and will remain lower as you develop a regular practice of yoga. Plus yoga can help people who have undergone heart surgery cope with feelings of depression, stress and anxiety. Managing diabetes can be a lot easier with the practice of yoga, when you have diabetes your body does not produce enough insulin, and that insulin deficiency can be related to lifestyle factors and stress. Yoga has benefits to significantly reduce stress. Most people do not know but certain poses and stances help with the limberness of your muscles but that can also help with your internal organs. If you have diabetes and want to take up yoga be sure to find a trained diabetic instructor they will be able to help you with the stances/poses that are necessary to help your pancreas.
Yoga is also something that a senior and their caregiver may want to do together; practicing partner yoga may help form the bond between a caregiver and their client. Just remember no single yoga pose or yoga class will be a magical cure, but taking the first step and trying is a key factor. If you have a medical condition or are taking medication consult your physician first before attending a class.
If you or a loved one could benefit from yoga, or need transportation to a yoga class give us a call today at 248-375-9125 to make arrangements. We service several counties in the Detroit Metro Area including Macomb and St. Clair.
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