| With the average age of the population in the United | | | | which can be performed by those with even more |
| States increasing daily, concerns about mobility and | | | | limited motion and provide a safe alternative for most |
| infirmity that can come with age are being addressed | | | | seniors who wish to take up yoga. |
| in many different ways. One of the ways to address | | | | The physical benefits of yoga for seniors are |
| this age old concern is through yoga for seniors. Yoga | | | | essentially the same as they are for anyone else. |
| is an extremely flexible activity that can be adapted to | | | | Increased strength, flexibility and coordination are the |
| the physical limitations of almost anyone, and different | | | | primary benefits most people will enjoy from their |
| styles are being introduced to make this even more | | | | yoga sessions. Additionally, many seniors will feel that |
| true. And while most people are attracted to yoga for | | | | their general well-being is improved and their energy |
| the physical benefits, the social benefits can not be | | | | level is considerably higher, which is a welcome feeling |
| ignored. Overall, yoga is really one of the best activities | | | | in an aging body. |
| for seniors. | | | | Aside from the physical benefits that can be expected |
| Many people have an impression of yoga that it is a | | | | from yoga, many seniors will find that by finding a yoga |
| way for extremely flexible people to tie themselves up | | | | class geared toward the needs of people in their age |
| into a pretzel shape that looks to be both incredibly | | | | group, they get the added benefit of finding a new |
| uncomfortable and impossible for the average person, | | | | social gathering where they can meet people who are |
| let alone an older person not used to physical activity. | | | | their age and who share the same interests. This will |
| However, the reality is that it is not only the | | | | help to keep the mind as active as the body and |
| practitioners who are flexible. Yoga itself can be | | | | provide a change from the traditional senior meeting |
| adapted to nearly any physical limitation from arthritis | | | | places. |
| to obesity. | | | | Surely you can see why yoga for seniors is increasing |
| Much of this adaptability comes from the variety of | | | | in popularity with the aging of the population. The |
| different styles of yoga you will find available. The | | | | physical challenges it presents can be addressed by |
| traditional yoga poses can be adapted through the use | | | | adjusting the poses and finding a style of yoga to fit |
| of bolsters, blocks and straps to allow people will less | | | | the need of the individual. With the increasing life |
| flexibility to perform the pose properly. Beyond the use | | | | expectancy of a rapidly aging population, it is no |
| of specialized equipment to perform poses, new styles | | | | wonder that activities like yoga are having their |
| such as chair yoga and bed top yoga provide poses | | | | flexibility tested. |