As you get older, it is often hard to keep up with physical activity. Health concerns and mobility issues can make it hard to get regular exercise. This leads many senior adults to become sedentary, increasing the risk of severe conditions like heart attack and stroke. Seniors should participate in recreational programs like chair yoga to encourage a more active lifestyle. What is chair yoga? Contact Buckner Retirement Services at 214.227.7182 to learn more about chair yoga for seniors and its benefits.
What Is Chair Yoga?
Chair yoga is a form of vinyasa yoga that incorporates the use of chairs for support. This gentle type of yoga can be practiced by sitting in a chair or standing next to it and holding onto it. Chair yoga acts as a form of low-impact yoga for seniors or others with limited mobility.
Benefits of Chair Yoga for Seniors
Yoga of any kind has been shown to provide an endless list of benefits, especially for older individuals. Low-impact yoga for seniors is a great way to increase activity levels, enhance mental health, and get regular exercise. Learn more about the benefits of chair yoga for seniors.
Enhanced Mindfulness
Chair yoga for seniors is a great way to enhance mindfulness and regulate mood. Practicing yoga can produce a calming effect that helps ease anxiety symptoms, reduce stress, and boost overall mood. This is especially beneficial for senior adults who may be struggling with mental health concerns like anxiety disorders or depression. When other treatments have failed, chair yoga may be the answer.
Doing a daily chair yoga routine can make a huge difference in improving mindfulness. This may look like a short chair yoga session upon waking up each morning. Chair yoga serves as a source of meditation for many people, helping them clear their minds and learn focused breathing skills.
Increased Strength and Flexibility
One of the main benefits of yoga is that it stretches the muscles and increases flexibility. As you age, your muscles can begin to atrophy, and you will lose flexibility. Low-impact yoga for seniors is a simple way to strengthen the muscles and maintain vital flexibility while aging. The following poses are recommended for seniors who want to increase their flexibility:
- Mountain pose
- Cat-cow stretch
- Pigeon pose
- Forward bend pose
- Spinal twist
- Extended side angle
- Warrior pose
Many of these poses can be practiced in either a seated position on the chair or in an upright position, using the chair as a source of support. To ensure that you are performing these poses correctly, trained yoga instructors can help guide you through the proper placements and movements.
Improved Overall Health
A major benefit of chair yoga for seniors is the way it improves overall health. While yoga may be a slow-paced activity, it is still physical activity. Many senior adults struggle to keep their activity levels up due to health concerns and limited mobility. Chair yoga provides a way to get regular exercise and improve health.
Practicing chair yoga for just ten minutes a day can enhance cardiovascular health and alleviate certain causes of chronic pain. Seniors who struggle with things like back pain, joint inflammation, and more may see an improvement in their symptoms from regular chair yoga sessions.
Recreational Programs at Buckner Retirement Services
Are you interested in the benefits of chair yoga for seniors? Buckner Retirement Services offers recreational programs throughout Texas, including yoga classes for senior adults. Practices like chair yoga can help your senior loved one address anxiety, chronic pain, and other mental or physical health concerns. To find out more, call 214.227.7182 to speak to a representative from Buckner Retirement Services.