June 21 is International Yoga Day. You and your loved one might think yoga is not for her – it requires too much balance and too many intricate poses, but yoga is a great exercise for seniors. It’s not all about young adults hanging out in leotards, stretching their bodies to the limit, but can be more focused on other aspects, such as gentle stretching, relaxation, and proper breathing. If done properly, yoga can be a great physical activity for many seniors.
Five Health Benefits of Yoga
Better Sleep
Since a large part of yoga focuses on breathing and relaxing, many seniors find that regular yoga sessions help them sleep better than they did before. Like all types of physical activity, keeping the body active during the day helps it unwind and relax in the evening when it’s time to sleep.
Stronger Bones
Yoga can prevent osteoporosis and relieve symptoms of osteoporosis. Regular yoga done correctly and consistently can even help increase bone density and strength because yoga uses a person’s body weight to provide gentle resistance and healthy stress on bones and connective tissues. That resistance encourages the body to produce more bone-forming cells, while also helping to maintain and rebuild bone strength.
Stress Relief
Yoga is all about a peaceful environment, intentionality, and focused relaxation, so it’s a natural consequence of yoga that a person will find it to relieve stress. Yoga can soothe and halt the body’s fight-or-flight response when your loved one is feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Reduced Risk of Falls
Yoga teaches your loved one how to safely stretch her body and become more flexible, along with building up muscle and bone strength. These benefits can help reduce the risk of a fall occurring when and if she stumbles or trips over something.
Chronic Pain Relief
Some stretches and poses can help a person find relief from aching and/or chronically sore areas on their bodies. It can also help reduce inflammation, a leading cause of pain.
Three Great Places to Practice Yoga
If your loved one is just starting a yoga practice, it’s going to be helpful for her to have a yoga instructor who can guide her through each pose and position.
Yoga Classes
Many senior centers and gyms offer yoga programs for seniors, and some even offer chair yoga so your loved one doesn’t need to get down on the ground to practice yoga. Going to a senior yoga class can also help her build up new friendships and a community that will extend outside of yoga class. If transportation is a concern, having a home care professional who can provide transportation can ensure your loved one will get to and from yoga class safely.
At Home
If your loved one is comfortable, she can do yoga in her own home by following along with a video or streaming service. A home care provider can help her set up her workout area by putting down the mat and ensuring she has water and whatever else she needs. A home care provider may even be able to help her find multiple classes online until she gets the perfect one.
Outside
Many people like doing yoga outside in their backyard, at a park, or on the beach. Yoga requires very little equipment, so it’s an easy activity to bring along when visiting a peaceful place. Yoga at dawn can be a great way to start the day.
