Health & Fitness Blog

The gentle art of yoga has many positive implications for the health of people over the age of 65, as San Diego Bikram Yoga Class 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.

The movements in yoga are very slow and gentle. They can be adapted to a senior’s specific needs and abilities. They may still have a good range of motion or be quite stiff if the body hasn’t moved in several years. Yoga Fitness Studio San Diego does not only improve fitness levels, it creates a peaceful and serene state of mind. Because it encourages relaxation, it helps control certain emotional problems that seniors can suffer from. Yoga creates 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.

Grieving the loss of a husband or wife is a difficult aspect of old age. Yoga can’t ease the pain but it will produce a more positive outlook on life which may help a senior cope with loss and grieving in a more healthy way.

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.

Seniors interested in Yoga Fitness Studio should check with a San Diego Bikram Yoga Class and inquire about instructors who are certified to work with seniors. Many practitioners will come to senior’s lodges and work with seniors who are not able to sit on the floor.