Chiropractor
When one mentions yoga, the image that comes to mind is normally thus: a young person, upside down, in a serene headstand. Yet, although commonly depicted as a youthful exercise, yoga is truly for everyone. This especially applies to the elderly!
Many senior citizens are finding renewed health and wellness through adopting a regular yoga practice. The following will review why practicing yoga and home care nursing is beneficial for promoting healthy aging.
Yoga Promotes Balance
One of the main reasons why yoga is so good for senior citizens is through its promotion of balance. As people age, they are more likely to suffer issues with maintaining equilibrium. In fact, according to the National Institute on Aging, “balance problems are among the most common reasons that older adults seek help from a doctor.”
Through practicing yoga, elderly individuals are able to both strengthen their balance and prepare themselves for any possible losses in equilibrium. Yoga poses, such as tree pose or tightrope walk, encourage the individual to shift their equilibrium.
In these circumstances, the elderly person is encouraged to find their footing with only one leg connected to the ground. This means the individual is learning how to balance under varied circumstances; they are also learning how to fall safely when balance is lost!
Yoga Increase Lung Capacity
While yoga tones the body externally, it also tones the lungs internally. This is due to its emphasis on pranayama. In sanskrit, the word prana delineates breath and ayana stands for control. Thus, pranayama means controlling the breath through deep breathing exercises.
It may seem silly to devote so much time to something that people do unconsciously, but this emphasis is important for lung health. According to a 2015 report by the CDC, nearly 15% of “older U.S. adults suffer from lung disorders such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).” Thus, it’s imperative for elderly individuals to tend to their lung health.
Through breathing deeply, oxygen is actively brought into the lungs. This oxygen enriches blood circulation, slows a fast heartbeat, stabilizes blood pressure, and increases lung capacity.
Closing Thoughts
If a senior citizen is living with a medical condition, they should always consult their doctor before doing yoga. They should always listen to their body, and seek out yoga practitioners that will fit the session to the senior citizen’s needs. Because, at the end of the day, yoga is truly for everyone!
At Lotus Wellness Center you will find a team of professionals that provide top-quality therapeutic care in a friendly, comfortable, and nurturing environment.