Yoga: The Perfect Choice for Senior Fitness

Yoga may be popular with younger people today, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great workout for seniors.  It’s low impact workout that doesn’t put excess stress on vulnerable bodies.  It makes you feel better mentally and physically while it improves your health. Plus, there are poses for beginners, experts, and everyone in between; so you’ll never get bored.  Here are just a few of the reasons yoga is a great workout for people of all ages, especially seniors. You can actually help prevent injury by practicing yoga.  Once of the main focuses of yoga is maintaining balance.  By staying balanced in a pose, you help develop the muscles that keep you balanced when you’re walking in the hall, sitting in a chair, or getting in and out of bed.  By developing these muscle groups, you’re less likely to sustain and injury in everyday life.

Along with preventing injury, yoga can make life easier whether you’ve had an injury in the past or not.  Yoga helps increase your stamina and flexibility.  Not only will you be able to move better and do things more efficiently, you’ll also have the energy to remain active longer each day.  Imagine how much yoga could improve your quality of life.

One problem many seniors suffer from is depression.  Whatever the cause, it’s very easy to get into a funk and feel distraught or just down about life.  Yoga can help ease some of those symptoms.  Yoga tries to encompass physical and mental health aspects at the same time.  Deep breathing helps you relax while the poses and movements help stretch and relax all the muscles in your body.  This leaves you feeling rested with a more positive outlook on life. 

So, you’re probably thinking “these benefits sound great, but there’s no way I can do all those crazy poses”.  Well, that’s why chair yoga was invented.  Instead of doing poses on a yoga mat, you use a normal everyday chair.  By using a chair, you don’t have to get on the ground, and you’re provided with extra safety and support while holding and changing between poses.  You can research online or even find books and videos that will teach you simple, but effective poses that are safe for many older people. As with any exercise program, you should talk you your doctor before starting a yoga routine.  They can medically clear you and also recommend specific types of exercises or steer you away from specific movements that might not be suitable for your body. 

So what are you waiting for?  Get started towards a healthier life today with yoga.