Yoga is a type of workout that involves breath control, meditation, and body postures for health and relaxation. While it’s often depicted as a workout done by mostly young people, older adults can benefit from yoga greatly. September is National Yoga Month, and here are 4 reasons older adults should try yoga.
Breathing
Yoga focuses on breathing more than most workouts. Through an exercise called pranayama, lung capacity is increased.
Posture
Because yoga utilizes body postures that involve balance and stilled movements, you can expect your posture to improve.
Sleep
Yoga involves relaxation techniques which can reduce anxiety and treat insomnia by minimizing stress.
Arthritis
Many individuals living with arthritis have found that yoga significantly improves their range of motion.
Types of Yoga
There are different types of yoga that are recommended for older adults. They are:
- Iyengar yoga: emphasizes making postures accessible through the use of props
- Viniyoga: tailored to each individual
- Kripalu: tailored to each individual
- Chair yoga: all poses are done sitting on chairs
- Water/Aqua yoga: yoga done in pools so the individual feels weightless
Where to Start
Yoga is accessible from books and videos. However, to be precautious and minimize any risk of injury, it is highly recommended older adults attend yoga classes. Yoga classes are becoming more and more accessible for older adults in the following areas:
- Local senior centers
- Retirement communities
- Religious organizations
- Health clubs
- Gyms
Cypress HomeCare is dedicated to ensuring your older loved one is healthy. In need of a caregiver? Contact us today or call (602) 264-8009.
