27 Sep Five Health Benefits Of Yoga For Senior Adults
It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you age and a big part of that is regular exercise. Unfortunately, many forms of exercise can be tough on joints and ligaments which often leads to injuries that can sideline you for good.
But yoga is one increasingly popular exercise that senior adults are using to achieve their fitness goals. While yoga enthusiasts are often pictured as young, a recent study compiled by www.thegoodbody.com reported that 38% of those who practice yoga in the US are age 50 and older. And the number of these “golden yogis” has tripled over the last four years.
There are many reasons senior adults love yoga. If you want to learn why, here are five of the top key benefits:
1. Stronger bones
One study found that yoga can help prevent the onset of osteoporosis, which causes bones to become brittle or weak. The weight-bearing poses help maintain or improve bone strength and one study found that yoga can even reverse osteoporotic bone loss.
2. Reduced stress
According to studies by John Hopkins University, yoga can help you let go of tension in your body and possibly relieve some of the stresses that lead to hypertension. So, you may be able to reduce some of your medications. Yoga also helps you breathe easier, reduce anxiety, and lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
3. Better sleep
Sleep is often an issue for older adults. But in a study by the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, seniors who do yoga reported that they were sleeping longer and more soundly which led to improved health and mood overall.
4. Enhanced balance and flexibility
With falls being one of the leading causes of injury among seniors, yoga’s benefits of better balance and flexibility are keenly important for seniors. With slow, measured movements, yoga poses can improve your mobility so you can get around more safely, according to this study.
5. Lower risk of depression.
Yoga is a mood-booster! It’s been proven that the combination of movement, breathing, and meditation can create an overall sense of well-being. And when you do yoga in a class setting with your neighbors and friends, you’ll get the benefit of staying socially active as well.
If you’ve never tried a yoga class, now is the time! Yoga classes of all levels are offered right here on campus by instructors well-versed in the techniques most beneficial to seniors.