By Harry Cline 
Yoga and meditation have been touted as a powerful healing source for maladies ranging from stress to muscle soreness. Exercise is important for all ages, and one should never stop because they’re getting older. In fact, the golden years are the best time to make exercise a priority for the sake of good health and longevity. For seniors, yoga can be a great, low-impact way to meet exercise needs. Let’s explore how.
- The physical benefits of yoga include improvements in:
- Joint mobility and strength
- Balance
- Flexibility
- Breathing
- Blood flow
- Cardiovascular Health
- Sleep
- Digestion
- Beyond the physical benefits of exercise, yoga helps the brain. Some of the mental benefits include:
- Peace of mind
- Greater well-being
- Reduced depression and anxiety
- Sharper attention and focus
- Mindfulness
- Yoga is also a budget friendly exercise activity which might help seniors living on a fixed income.
- There is little to no equipment needed. It is recommended that you use a mat to practice yoga, but there are yoga poses that don’t require a yoga mat.
- You don’t need to spend money on special clothing or shoes. You can simply wear what is comfortable.
If you are a senior interested in practicing yoga, or if you want to introduce yoga to a senior in your life, here’s how to get started. First, find a yoga or meditation class that caters to seniors. The local senior center or retirement home will likely have a class, and if not, there are plenty of instructional videos available online. (Unless you’re an advanced yoga practitioner, it’s better to start with gentle yoga, beginner’s yoga, or yoga specifically designed for seniors.) Secondly consider alternative ways other than a studio class practice yoga. Chair yoga is an easy starter program because it minimizes movement that could cause injury, and it allows those who are less mobile to participate.
Whether it’s your first time getting into exercise or you have a regular fitness routine, don’t let age stop you from getting the blood flowing and the joints moving. As you move into your senior years, your body will need to move to keep your heart healthy and your mind happy. Know your limits and take things slow, but soon you’ll see how strong and resilient you can be.
Harry Cline is creator of NewCaregiver.org and author of the upcoming book, The A-Z Home Care Handbook: Health Management How-Tos for Senior Caregivers.