Yoga may seem like a young woman’s activity, but seniors actually have a lot to gain from the practice. Many of the physical improvements that result from yoga directly address the health concerns of older individuals. Getting involved in the exercise may lead to a number of important benefits.
Most experts agree that maintaining flexibility is an important part of growing older. Few things hamper a person’s mobility and ability to live independently than muscle and joint stiffness. This can make a person feel much older than they actually are.
Few practices improve a person’s flexibility quite like yoga. The exercise regimen basically amounts to specialized stretches targeted to certain areas of the body. By practicing yoga on a regular basis, older individuals can ensure that they maintain their flexibility and avoid many of the health problems that come from musculoskeletal stiffness.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common age-related health problems. Millions of U.S. adults suffer from the painful joint condition. It is caused by the cartilage of the joints wearing down over time. Once the cartilage is completely broken down, there is no cure for the pain short of joint replacement surgery.
The Arthritis Foundation states that exercise is one of the best ways to prevent the joint damage that characterizes osteoarthritis. However, the irony is that because the condition causes pain, few people stay as active as they should. Studies have shown that very few people with osteoarthritis get any kind of physical activity in their everyday life.
Yoga may offer these individuals a solution to the problem. Because the practices is low-impact, it may not bother the joints of a person with osteoarthritis the way more traditional exercises like running or riding a bike can.
A large percentage of seniors also suffer from cardiovascular problems. High cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and poor blood flow are very common problems. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
However, yoga may be able to counter many of these problems. The exercise routine has been shown to lower the heart rate and improve circulation. This may benefit individuals who have multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
Furthermore, yoga can get the heart pumping more than a person would think, which may provide the cardiovascular workout seniors need to maintain the condition of their heart and reduce their chances of complications.
For some reason, practicing yoga has become very popular among young females, with very few men and older individuals trying out the practice. This is a shame because just about everyone has something to gain from yoga. This is particularly true for seniors, who may be among the least likely to sign up for a class.
However, this perception should not stop older people from trying it out. There are many classesthat are specifically geared to the ability and needs of seniors. Getting involved in one of these classes may be among the best things aging individuals can do for their health.
Maryann Holden is a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor in and around The Villages.
