Yoga For Elders

As people grow older, so do their body parts. Elderly people face many health problems like breathing troubles, memory loss, joint pain and many others. Not every health problem can be treated with medicine. While some problems can be treated medically, some other needs to be treated with natural therapies like yoga. Elder people must perform yoga based on their body condition and need to focus more on what you do rather than how much you do.

There are few asanas in yoga for the elderly people. Some of them are:

  • Warm up and brisk walking.
  • Standing.
    • Konasana or triangles pose.
    • Kati chakrasanas or Standing Spinal Twist.
    • Asanas done by lying back or on stomach.
      • Bhujangasana or Cobra pose
      • Pawanmuktasana or knee to chin press.
      • Shalabhasana or locust pose
      • Sitting.
      • Shishu Asana or child pose
      • Cat stretch.
      • Butterfly pose.
      • Body rotation.

Regular practice of yoga for the elderly people helps in improving their immune system and helps in leading a happier life. Some of the advantages of doing yoga by elder people are:

  • Pranayam or breathing exercise to get a better sleep and improve body functioning.
  • Improves flexibility and strength thereby reducing the chance of getting degenerative diseases like chronic pain and arthritis.
  • Relief from menopausal discomfort (Seated forward bend, plow and bridge asanas).
  • Increases density and bone strength and helps people suffering from osteoporosis and bone fractures.
  • Improves concentration, body awareness and sense of balance.
  • Improves spinal strength and reduces risk of back pain, herniated disc and sciatica.
  • Improves blood circulation to eliminate toxins.
  • Stimulates nervous system and brain.
  • Improves digestive system and bowel functions.
  • Reduces and controls blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels and stress.

Older people need to recognize the strengths and weakness of their bodies before doing yoga. Yoga needs to be an integral part of every one’s life to lead a happy life during the aged years.