By Ben Pate
The gentle art of yoga has many positive implications for the health of people over the age of 65, as San Diego yoga studio owners will attest to.
As older people begin to relax in their retirement years, they're enjoying a new sense of freedom and taking full advantage of their leisure time. Unfortunately, it's prime time for seniors to start suffering from age-related afflictions, such as high blood pressure, crippling arthritis and incontinence which can be caused by weakening pelvic floor muscles. Gentle exercise in the form of yoga can slow down approaching old age and help prevent some of these ailments.
Not all seniors have physical limitations, but if they do, the slow and gentle movements in yoga can easily be adapted to their fitness level. Tight muscles due to long periods of inactivity can be once again lengthened and poor muscle tone can be improved with yoga. It works the body and the brain, encouraging relaxation and a calming of the mind. Many seniors experiencing lower hormone levels can become irritable but yoga can restore a positive outlook in older people.
The wonderful calming influence that yoga is known for has resulted in lowering of blood pressure in seniors. This has also had an impact on diseases of the heart and afflictions of the nervous system. The rhythmic breathing of yoga has helped many seniors fight respiratory ailments and with regular exercise the beginnings of other diseases of the airway can also be stopped.
But, with any exercise, reading about it won't produce any results. Seniors must put some effort into yoga to reap the benefits; however, in relation to other types of exercise yoga produces the most results for the least effort. Research has shown that seniors can possibly expect to sleep better, have stronger bones, recovery more quickly after hospital visits, digest and eliminate food with more comfort and enjoy increased joint mobility with less swelling. In many cases, balance may be improved and seniors will be steadier on their feet which will prevent falls.
The positive outlook on life which can be developed while practicing yoga will help an older person deal with the loss of a spouse. This is another benefit for people of a certain age who must deal with death more frequently than younger people.
Whatever a senior's range of mobility might be, a yoga program can be set up by a qualified yoga instructor. People are never too old to get moving and enjoy the tranquility of yoga in all its forms without undue pain and discomfort.
It's important for seniors to know their limits and to listen to what their bodies are telling them when they start a new activity such as yoga. When moving properly with expert direction, yoga is a gentle relaxing way for seniors to improve their health and to develop a healthy attitude towards life.
There are instructors at San Diego yoga studios who are qualified to work with seniors and their specific needs. Some practitioners will visit nursing homes and attend to the specific needs of the elderly.
Whether you're in a nursing home, a senior's lodge or still at home working to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle, a San Diego Beginner Yoga Class can help you develop a Local Yoga Class program and move your body.
Source:www.isnare.com |
