Did you know that yoga has many benefits for seniors?
Almost 3 million Americans who practice yoga are 55 years old or older because yoga helps with the most common issues such as back and knee pain.
Feeling empowered to experience its benefits for yourself?
Here’s what you need to know to kickstart your practice as a senior:
Yoga is a versatile practice, accessible to people of all gender and ages. On top of that, you do it in the comfort of your home by joining online classes and reap its benefits.
How Yoga Can Help You Heal
The benefits of yoga range from the physical to the mental. As my grandfather got older, he began to practice yoga. At first, he learned yoga to help keep his knees strong. But soon, the benefits of his daily practice began to impact other areas of his life too.
He received relief from chronic pain and inflammation and felt empowered to say no to surgery.
Yoga is the secret to aging gracefully. One of the most important benefits of a regular yoga practice for seniors is that it helps to reclaim autonomy by offering greater mobility and energy. But there are plenty of other benefits, too!
15 Healing Benefits of Yoga for Seniors
If you thought that you’re ‘too old’ to do yoga, think again. Yoga is ageless and reaches millions of people of all ages, walks of life, and body types.
Even if you’ve suffered from ailments such as arthritis or broken bones, there are yoga exercises for seniors that is compatible with your body type.
The main thing to keep in mind when you’re starting to do yoga is to start slow and practice the most basic poses.
When you start mastering the basic yoga poses such as child’s pose, downward dog, and cat-cow, you will begin to feel the the following benefits of yoga:
- Balance
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Mobility
- Range of Motion
- Pain relief
- Stress relief
- Posture
- Inflammation reduction
- Joy and hope
- Empowerment
- Digestion
- Increased blood circulation
- Heart health
- Bone strength
By practicing yoga for 10-20 minutes a day on a daily basis or every other day, seniors can immediately feel their moods change and their bodies feel better.
How to Practice Yoga as a Senior
Yoga for seniors can be performed in a chair. Or, you can try practicing in the open air, if you feel confident in your balance and stability.
Yoga can be practiced anywhere, anytime. When you practice with other yoga students, you’ll also reap the rewards of participating in a community experience.
Feeling connected to a community has been demonstrated to increase overall mental and physical health.
The breathing and meditation aspects of yoga are especially empowering. Breathing practices help oxygenate the body and brain. Meditation is a great stress reducer.
Together they multiply the health benefits of yoga to include pain relief, mental clarity, and a feeling of empowerment and independence.
Watch the video and learn what others have experienced when they practice yoga.
You’re invited to join a community of yoga students of all ages in the online program Zenward:
