Be Flexible, Strong, and Calm. Yoga is for Everyone -- Even Seniors!
One of the best parts about yoga is that it allows for modifications for any stage of life. You can be a professional athlete, on a weight loss journey, or just need to chill out. Don't let your age discourage you. The Woodstock Generation never followed convention anyway.
“Seniors, who often struggle with pain, joint stress, imbalance, osteoarthritis, and other physical limitations, can benefit from incorporating a yoga practice into their daily routine.” Chopra
Yoga and Flexibility
If you’re concerned about what type of yoga is best for seniors, ask your yoga instructor or occupational therapist to be sure. But the best type of yoga for everyone is Hatha which is basically mindful stretching. The yogis will correct us, but this 47-year-old writer loves Hatha. It builds strength and flexibility and mindfulness. So Hatha yoga is the perfect combination for many of us who are new or aren’t exactly at our goal weight.
Yoga and Strength
If you’re looking to build strength, then yoga is for you. Yoga uses resistance and your own bodyweight to build strength throughout your body, not just your core. The poses and focus you choose to work on are completely up to you. You can build strength in your yoga practice in even 5 minutes. Sarah Beth Yoga is a great, free resource for anyone.
“The current study concluded that healthy volunteers who underwent 21 d of training in Isha Hatha yoga showed significant improvements in core strength and balance.” Adv Mind Body Med. 2016;30(2):4-10.
Yoga and Calm
Hey. We all get stressed out. (And menopause or low T doesn’t help, right?) Many people come to yoga for calm/mindfulness/peace and leave with strength and flexibility. It’s always a bonus to have extra side effects -- the ones we actually want.
“Relaxation is key in restorative yoga, which is especially helpful for anyone recovering from an injury. Classes tend to focus more on stress relief than flowing from one pose to the next.” Silver Sneakers
Grab Your Mat and Start Today
There’s no better day to start yoga than today. If you don’t have a yoga mat, you may want to start with chair yoga. Yoga mats are easy to get either at Target or from Amazon even. You could also use a towel or two as well. Calm your mind, strengthen your body, and become more flexible about how you work out.
