How Yoga Benefits Seniors and Their Caregivers
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This Guest Article comes from Camille Johnson from bereaver.com.
Yoga is a great way for caregivers and seniors to get their minds and bodies in shape. It’s low-impact and slow, but relieves stress, boosts your mood, and builds core strength. As Katia Yoga explains, it’s good not just for seniors, but for those who care for them, and it’s a great way for seniors and caregivers to spend time together with big mutual benefits.
Yoga is Easy and Can Definitely Benefit Your Body
Yoga is considered safe and suitable for beginners at almost any level. Yoga is also recommended as a fitness activity for seniors who need to increase their balance, flexibility, and range of motion. A recent study even showed that “individuals over the age of 60 who practiced yoga experienced improved mobility and balance.”
Yoga doesn’t require risky overexertion, making it a good exercise choice. Poses can be modified to make them more comfortable. To help you stay safe though, How Stuff Works points out that it’s important to have a yoga instructor who can patiently lead you through each pose. An instructor who has experience working with seniors can recommend poses for limited mobility.
Practicing yoga can provide serious physical benefits for seniors. These benefits include better sleep, improved blood pressure, as well as pain relief. There are even more benefits if yoga is paired with other healthy habits, such as improving gut health by taking probiotics and eating gut-friendly foods.
Yoga and Meditation Can Benefit Your Mental Health Too
One element that makes yoga stand out among other workouts for seniors and caregivers is its ability to improve mental health. Some of the psychological benefits of yoga that can benefit those who practice include:
Fewer feelings of anxiety and depression.
Improved memory and concentration.
Reduced impact of traumatic events.
Another mental health management practice you learn in yoga is deep relaxation. This technique, called savasana, eases the tension in your body. It can also help stabilize your mind and create a sense of calm. They also recommend using this pose at home so you can practice it for longer periods of time to get even more benefits. This added element of self-care can be especially helpful for caregivers and may even reduce the effects of caregiver burnout.
Meditation is often at the core of yoga but you can also practice meditation alone, to reap the bountiful mental health benefits. Much like yoga, meditation can help with depression, anxiety and provide a general sense of peace and calm.
You Need to Take Care Before Starting Your Practice
While yoga is generally considered safe, you should always check with your doctor before starting any type of fitness routine, particularly if you have a chronic illness or have been sedentary for a long time. Additionally, Verywell Mind cautions seniors with spinal disc problems or glaucoma to avoid certain poses. Ask your instructor about modifications for these poses or sit in child’s pose to protect your body.
Some Types of Yoga May Be Better for You Than Others
There are many types of different yoga practices and you’ll need to find the one that meets your needs. Here are some descriptions that can help you:
Hatha Yoga: Slow-paced poses with a focus on breathing.
Iyengar Yoga: Focuses on body alignment through breathing.
Viniyoga: Customized for each person.
Kripalu: A gentle practice that allows you to go at your own pace.
Adaptive Yoga: There are also adaptive yoga solutions as well such as chair yoga, which you can learn about at Do You Yoga.
Create a Welcoming Space
It’s common for those new to yoga practice to fully embrace all of its benefits, and it eventually becomes a way of life. In addition to attending yoga classes in-person, developing a home practice is often the next step. Find a corner of the house or a room you can dedicate to your practice. Clear out any mess or clutter, and clean the area thoroughly to invoke positivity and calm. A yoga mat, props, a bolster, ambient lighting, and incense, sage, or palo santo will all set the stage for a deep, meditative practice.
The deep calm and gentle exercise yoga provides can be beneficial for seniors and caregivers alike. Just be sure to exercise caution when beginning your practice and seek out an instructor who can help you find the right practice for your needs.
Katia Yoga explores a deeper side of yoga, along with how to make yoga a real part of your everyday life. Reach out to yogi Katia today for more information! katia@katiayoga.com