Why Should Seniors Do Yoga?

As we age, our bodies begin to let us know where we may have over done it, over the years. As that happens, the reaction is similar to that of someone with an autoimmune disease. It becomes difficult to tell when we need to stop moving the affected area all together and rest or to continue moving only differently. Only you and your dr. know for sure. However, yoga can be a tool through which you move – safely, building strength and stretching tight, affected areas, easing some of that discomfort. Because yoga can be modified to suit any situation, we can literally alter poses to completely avoid certain body parts. Later, when you are ready, we can add that body part back in, but modify it so that you feel comfortable, then progressing in small increments, increasing strength and flexibility.

A very common ailment that affects the older community is a hip replacement. In yoga we can modify each of the poses so that the rest of the body can move normally, while keeping the hip in the “new proper alignment” and strengthening the surrounding areas.

Maybe you have developed osteopenia or osteoporosis. One of the recommendations for reducing the likelihood of bone fractures is exercise. Weight bearing, resistance exercises and balance exercises are the types of suggested exercises. All of which are facets of yoga.

Even if your situation isn’t as pronounced as a surgery recovery, or a new joint, it is never too late to start moving. Yoga is an excellent activity that involves the body and mind. Whether you can move a lot or a little, Yoga teaches you to breathe fully, expanding the lungs – they need exercise too, to coordinate breath and movement – however much movement is comfortable, asking you to honor your body and

move only as far as is comfortable –for you. It is a practice created and tailored to you, by you. We as the teacher only suggest the postures, you decide where you are comfortable.

Injury and pain aside, becoming sedentary should not be an option for many reasons. It is widely suggested that a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to developing conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, High Blood Pressure, Anxiety and many more. What if there was such an exercise that could help stave off some of these conditions, stretch and strengthen your body, exercise your lungs thereby oxygenating your body and stimulate your mind, and help to protect the future of the bones related to osteoporosis –all at your own risk free pace? There is and it’s been around for

years.

Even if you have never tried Yoga before, an easy way to get started to is to join a senior class. It’s never too late to try something new.