While young and middle-aged adults often attend yoga classes to achieve a lean and toned body, senior citizens can also use the techniques to slow the aging process. With a few modifications to yoga poses and a respect for the physical limitations of an aging body, seniors can easily participate in a healthy and active yoga session. In fact, the benefits of yoga for senior citizens extend far beyond the practice's physical effects.
Better Stability & Flexibility
One of the most significant concerns among senior citizens is the tremendous risk of falls. As the body ages, the bones, muscles and joints become weak and it becomes increasingly difficult to move. However, yoga challenges seniors to use their own body weight to improve their overall body strength. Yoga also requires a heightened awareness of your own body as you move through the various poses. As the bones and muscles strengthen and the sense of body awareness improves, most seniors develop better stability, flexibility and balance. As a result, the risk of falls significantly decreases.
Medical Prevention
When practiced regularly, yoga can significantly decrease a senior citizen's risk for developing a variety of medical conditions. These conditions include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, anxiety and depression. The gentle aerobic stretches of yoga keep the cardiovascular system healthy and encourage proper body functioning. An exercise session also helps burn excess calories, which keeps body weight and body fat levels regulated. And although yoga cannot prevent all medical conditions, it can often help ease the symptoms of the conditions it cannot control. For example, yoga's gentle stretches can significantly improve the pain associated with arthritis, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic back pain.
Emotional Benefits
As senior citizens move into the late stages of life, symptoms of depression and anxiety may begin to appear. Transitioning from an independent adult to a dependent senior citizen can be a frustrating and discouraging experience. Many seniors experience loneliness as children grow up and start their own families and spouses and close friends pass away. Physical limitations may require them to move out of their homes into a new, unfamiliar place. The loss of independence, chronic pain, loneliness and new illnesses can easily trigger symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, yoga's focus on mind-body connection can help senior citizens relax and obtain a more positive outlook on life.
Better Sleep
During the later years of life, it often becomes increasingly difficult to obtain a full, restful night's sleep. Many older adults not only have a difficult time falling asleep, but also have a hard time staying asleep throughout the night. As a result, they cannot achieve a complete night of sleep and often feel tired and fatigued throughout the daytime. However, the physical postures and relaxation techniques used in a regular yoga practice can help senior citizens obtain better sleep. In fact, a 2010 study published in "The Journal of Nursing Research" found that after six months of practicing yoga three times per week, elderly participants had improved sleep quality and better daytime function.
References
- American Senior Fitness Association: Yoga for the 50+
- MayoClinic.com: Yoga: Tap Into the Many Health Benefits
- Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons: Seniors Find Balance, Strength In Yoga
- "The Journal of Nursing Research"; Effects of Yoga on Sleep Quality and Depression in Elders in Assisted Living Facilities; Kuei-Min Chen, et al; March 2010
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Depression - Elderly
Member Comments