Yoga is one of the most suitable activities for people as they age, as it is slow-paced and more static in nature. Your loved ones are able to benefit from doing Yoga, and though some of your loved ones might not be as mobile, there are still some activities of yoga that they can do. The following are some of the benefits of yoga that would be of great help to your loved ones.
Cardiovascular Health
Lowering a person’s blood pressure is one of the ways that yoga is helpful to the body. This is likely due to the slow, controlled breathing in yoga which helps to reduce nervous system activity, thus assisting to manage blood pressure levels. A person’s heart rate is also slowed down, and respiration is eased. Yoga has also been associated with strengthening the immune system, and the reduction of the levels of fats in the blood, such as cholesterol and triglycerides.
Strength and Balance
Yoga involves slow and controlled movements, as well as maintaining certain poses and going through the sequences of poses. Staying in a particular pose properly for a period of time aids in building up strength, and assists mature adults in having better balance. Balance is highly useful as it can help in reducing falls, which often become increasingly common as we age. The improvement in core strength also helps avoid back problems, and to have better posture.
Flexibility
Stretching is one of the main activities in yoga. Lactic acid builds up in your muscles as you exercise, and stretching helps release the lactic acid. Yoga aids older adults in having better flexibility, which in turn also helps to keep them active. It is very useful for a person’s joints to be brought through a varied range of motion, as it assists in lubricating their surfaces.
Stress Relief
Yoga has a calming effect on people. After their first lesson, even beginners feel more relaxed and less stressed. It has been found that regular goers of yoga classes have lower levels of catecholamines. Catecholamines are the hormones produced by the adrenal glands as a stress response. Additionally, there is an increase in oxytocin in a person’s system as well. Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the brain that is linked to trust, bonding, and fending off depression.
Improvements for Other Medical Conditions
Yoga has often been used as a safe addition to the treatment for various chronic medical conditions. Some of these conditions are back pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, and insomnia. In particular for osteoporosis, yoga, being a weight-bearing activity, aids in slowing bone-thinning.
The benefits of yoga for your loved ones go beyond just cardiovascular, strength and balance, flexibility, stress relief, and improvements for other medical conditions. Even for those who are unable to move too much, there are yoga poses that your loved ones can do. Remember, it’s never too late to start.
