It is never too late to try yoga for the first time and with age, it’s important to incorporate physical activity into the daily routines to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. With a regular exercise routine, seniors will feel more energetic and can help manage the aches and pains that come with aging. This leads to a more independent life where staying safer and feeling your best is what we all want.
Chair Yoga has been called one of the best forms of exercise for older adults. Seniors can improve their flexibility and balance, enhance their strength and boost their mood. What is not to like?
Benefits of Chair Yoga for Seniors
If you have never tried yoga before, check out a class and experience some of the benefits of yoga for seniors like:
· Strengthened bones. Yoga for seniors can help prevent the onset of osteoporosis, which causes bones to become brittle or weak. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone can’t keep up with the decrease of bone mass and density that occurs with aging.
· Reduced stress. Yoga offers a relaxing way to let go of the tension you are holding in your body, especially in your shoulders and upper back. It’s been known to help relieve some of the stresses that lead to hypertension, which in turn leads to not needing as many medications on a daily basis. Yoga also helps reduce anxiety, lowering your heart rate, blood pressure, and helping you breathe easier.
· Improved sleeping habits. Because yoga for seniors can be so relaxing, many individuals report that they are sleeping longer and more soundly, which can often be an issue for older adults.
· Enhanced balance, flexibility, mobility and strength. The slow, measured movements involved with yoga poses having the support of the chair can lead to better balance and movement, which can also help prevent falls. As falls are the leading cause of injury among seniors, yoga helps provide the tools you need to improve your mobility so you can get around more safely.
· Lessen the risk for depression. Yoga is a mood-booster; the combination of movement, breathing and meditation can create an overall sense of well-being.
· Alleviate aches and pains. Even if you have some physical limitations, chair yoga can help ease the aches and pains associated with aging. Yoga can be especially beneficial to those suffering from osteoarthritis, teaching you how to breathe and relax through any chronic pain you may be dealing with.
If you’re interested in trying out a yoga class, make sure you do a little research or speak to your doctor and if you get the go ahead, try Flowithme chair yoga classes specifically designed for senior with gentle and more active classes.
To know more about chair yoga for seniors, contact Sara on sara@flowithme.com or +353 851 387984.