Incorporating movement into our everyday routines empowers us to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Even a little bit of fitness every day can decrease the aches and pains that come with the aging process and can significantly increase energy levels. Yoga is a great way to add in daily movement: it can help increase strength, balance, flexibility, and mobility. Furthermore, it is a low-impact exercise, meaning it is easy on the joints and can be easily modified to fit your abilities and needs!
Yoga provides a wide range of benefits to participants. Here are just a few of the advantages to integrating this healthy habit into your daily life:
Strengthened Bones- Yoga helps keep bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, from forming.
Reduced Aches and Pains- Yoga can teach participants how to breathe and relax through any chronic pain they may be experiencing
Reduced Stress- Yoga reduces anxiety, lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, and helps you breathe more easily. It also helps release tension that is held in your body especially in the shoulders and upper back. Reducing tension helps decrease the risk of conditions such as hypertension.
Lower Risk for Depression- The combination of breathing, meditation, and movement work together to give a sense of overall well-being. Practicing yoga in a class environment will also keep you more socially active!
Sleep Improvements- Yoga is a very relaxing practice that carries over into the rest of your day, making you sleep longer and more soundly.
If you are interested in pursuing this hobby, it’s easy to get started. Call your local recreation center or gym to see if they have classes available. If not, you can check the area for yoga studios. They are likely to offer classes for all levels with professional instructors who can help determine what movement feels good to you and can modify some poses to ensure you stay within your comfort level. A great thing to keep in mind about yoga is it requires minimal equipment, all you need is a mat! This makes it a great form of exercise to practice at home with loved ones, or solo. If you prefer some level of guidance there are many great videos and online classes you can follow along with from the comfort of your own living room! Here are just a few.
Yoga for Seniors | Slow and Gentle Yoga
Incorporating yoga into your routine is sure to provide you with a wide range of mental, social, and physical benefits. It can give you a new social environment, keep you moving, help you relax, and increase your mobility, strength, flexibility, and balance. This activity is accessible, beginner-friendly, and a nice indoor or outdoor activity to boost your weekly movement levels!
For more information regarding yoga and its benefits check out these resources: