Yoga is a form of exercise that involves different physical postures. These postures, or positions, are meant to work wonders for both the body and the mind. The word ‘yoga’ is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘to yoke’ or ‘to bind’. This origin of the word is telling, as yoga is intricately connected with self-discipline and learning to be present in the immediate moment.
If you’re male and you do yoga you’re known as a ‘yogi’, while a female practitioner is known as a ‘yogini’. Yoga is much more than just a way of keeping yourself in shape: it is also a philosophical outlook which helps to tranquilize your mind.
Yoga is an excellent route to explore if you’re wondering what types of exercise seniors should do. It is a low-impact and relaxing way of keeping your mind and body strong. Here are the basics of yoga for seniors, including some moves to try out:
The Benefits of Yoga for Seniors
Yoga has many benefits for the older population. It helps to strengthen and maintain balance, ensures that joints stay flexible, and helps to keep your muscle and bone density as high as possible. It also helps to stabilize a senior’s mind during times when they may be experiencing stress, worry, or depression due to the aging process.
Additionally, yoga boosts focus and concentration, two important qualities for seniors who may be struggling in this area. Yoga is good for anyone, but it is especially beneficial for the elderly because it is gentle enough not to overexert the body, while also energetic enough to actually make a difference to their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Basic Yoga Moves
Here are some basic yoga moves for seniors that will benefit them in a number of ways:
Mountain Pose
This basic yoga move will help to improve balance and your center of gravity when you’re in a stationary or standing position. Stand straight and tall while making sure that your big toes and heels are touching. Next, breath in to draw your stomach in and upwards while keeping your shoulders as relaxed as possible. Then, simply take five to eight breaths while keeping your leg muscles firm and engaged. As well as balance, this improves a senior’s posture which is great for people who are prone to slouching.
Bird Dog
This one is great for keeping your stomach toned and also helps to strengthen the supportive elements of your back. As we age, it is common for our spine to become weaker and to experience back problems as a result. Thus, this position will help stretch and exercise the spine and back area. You start by getting in a kneeling position and then stretching one arm in front of you while stretching the opposite leg behind you. A good way of visualizing this pose is to imagine you have a porcelain cup or object on your back and you have to stop it from crashing to the floor. While maintaining this position, draw your stomach as close as you can to the spine without over-straining yourself. Stay in this position for one breath, and then work on the corresponding arm and leg.
Home Health Care
There are a number of common difficulties for the elderly around the home. For example, keeping up with house maintenance; particularly physically taxing tasks such as roof repair and maintenance, can create a lot of stress in an elderly person’s life. Retirement age frees seniors up with regards to the amount of free time they have, but at the same time their physical capabilities are generally in decline due to poor health and/or the natural aging process.
Because of this, sometimes when people get older they need outside help to successfully maintain their house and look after themselves properly. There are a number of reasons why people who wish to age in their homes choose home health care. For example, they want to stay as independent as possible. In-home care can help achieve this goal.
This is how personal home care enables independence for the elderly: first, by supporting activities of daily living ; second, by providing companionship and doing errands that will help improve the senior’s quality of life.
It is evident that the advantages of receiving health care in the home are numerous, and will greatly benefit the everyday life of your loved one. Friends and family are important, but availing of home care services ensures that loved ones are not over-burdened with taking care of their aging relative when they already have their own responsibilities.