Yoga & Healthy Aging

People have practiced yoga for its health benefits for thousands of years. Yoga strengthens mind, body and spirit as well as reducing stress. It is not a passing trend and has substantial health benefits that can improve your healthy aging.

Now, for the first time ever, people over 65 make up more of Canada’s population than children. Why? Because of longer life expectancies and lower fertility rates.

By 2031, 25% of the overall Canadian population—with 20% more women than men—will be over the age of 65.

So what can you do about staying healthier as you age?

Practice Yoga 

Yoga can prevent key areas of problems as you age. It promotes physical and mental well-being in significant areas.

Research shows that if you practice yoga for an hour over a minimum of 8 weeks, it can help in three key areas.

1. Your aching back: Chronic low back pain is very common as you grow older and yoga can really help.
2. Boost your balance: Balance tends to diminish with age and falls are common; yoga can improve balance and mobility.
3. Ease symptoms of disease: Yoga includes relaxation and meditation and this holistic approach to wellness and health is key to improve quality of life and relieve symptoms of disease and distress. 

What happens if you can’t practice some of the physical practices or asanas? You adapt, although most skillful yoga teachers usually offer their classes to meet different levels. You can also choose not to do some of asanas.

Yoga is practiced all over the world but only you can know what level is right for you.

Try yoga because you have nothing to lose except some stiffness and pain. And you have a lot to gain in your quality of life.

(with thanks toMcMaster University Healthy Aging Portal)