Our aging population is growing rapidly and many believe in “taking it easy” with the increase of age. The truth is, the more we are idle, the more our muscles shorten, tighten and weaken. Not only will this lead to lack of flexibility but several other problems:
- Excessive tightness in the quads, hamstrings, calves or thigh muscles leads to knee problems
- Lack of weight bearing activities contributes to osteoporosis
- Lack of stretching leads joint deterioration
The older generation need to keep their muscles moving the same as anyone else or they will lose their strength. Now, we don’t need start weight training or other vigorous exercises to prevent or aid physical complications that come with age. There’s always Yoga.
Asanas:
Yoga asanas are postures that coordinate breath with movement and with holding the position to stretch and strengthen different parts of the body. These positions bear preventive and therapeutic benefits. The main purpose of these postures are to balance each side of the body so that no undue stress is imposed upon any muscle, joint, organ or bone. Not only does strengthen our muscles / joints and flushes out toxins (detox), it is also a form of exercise that helps relieve pain and provides a holistic lifestyle balance
Pranayama:
As we age, we stop breathing fully. In yoga, we are reminded to breathe and take advantage of our full lung capacity. As age catches on, flexibility decreases in the ribcage, and in some cases of spinal deformities, there is less room for lung expansion. Full inhalations and exhalations serves to increase lung capacity, and slows down the heart rate which, in turn, increases concentration and fitness levels.
Now who’s up for Yoga?
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