Yoga can improve fitness and address the health concerns of an aging and more sedentary population. Instructors of senior yoga classes should be aware of the health and fitness levels of class participants, the American Senior Fitness Association states, and should keep the classes small enough to be attentive to individual participants.
Postures
In a yoga class, you learn to control your breathing to control your body and relax your mind. Yoga breathing focuses on learning to exhale completely. Yoga postures are movements or positions assumed by participants and held for a specified period of time. Postures are designed to increase your flexibility and strength through focus on the balance of each side of the body. Yoga poses should not place cause pain or place unnecessary stress on your muscles, joints or bones.
Considerations
Seniors benefit from demonstrations and explanations of the poses, shorter times for holding the poses and slower transitions between poses, the American Senior Fitness Association notes. Poses that focus on your muscles and joints most affected by age-related conditions are helpful for maintaining flexibility and improving strength. You should feel free, with instructor assistance, to use props that help you achieve and hold the poses. Many senior yoga classes include chair yoga to further modify poses for elderly or immobile participants.
Benefits
Yoga's benefits include stress reduction, increased fitness and management of chronic physical and mental health conditions, MayoClinic.com notes. Involvement in yoga class may lead to healthier lifestyle choices that could result in weight loss. For seniors, yoga can help with sleep and increase the flexibility compromised by arthritis and similar conditions. Whether your yoga class stresses relaxation and meditation or exercise and fitness, you can benefit from regular physical activity and socialization.
Locations
Organizations that offer senior yoga classes include YMCAs, senior centers, divisions of parks and recreation and health and fitness facilities. In California, for example, Silver Age Yoga provides a "find a class" search on its website to find free senior classes taught by its certified instructors. You are more likely to find a class that meets your personal needs if you ask about the instructor's qualifications and confirm that the instructor is willing to modify poses and consider the health and fitness of individual participants.
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