Friday, November 22, 2013

How Can Yoga Benefit Seniors?



What follows is a guest article by Carolina Sewald, staff writer for Drug DangersHope you find it to be useful!  Robert Tell, Author and Host of The Caregiver Chronicles

Benefits of Yoga for Seniors

"Yoga has been known for its countless benefits for both mental and physical health for hundreds of years. This method of alternative medicine has been used by thousands of people to help alleviate stress, improve fitness and, in some cases, aid in treating chronic diseases such as depression or anxiety.

Depression is very common among seniors especially after moving into an assisted living community. They begin to feel lonely and lose sight of their happiness. With little activity in nursing facilities, seniors are seldom given the opportunity to interact with each other and socialize.

Facilities across the country have begun holding monthly yoga classes and have experienced great success in doing so. Not only do the residents have the opportunity to interact and be active, recent studies have shown that yoga can actually improve cognitive function aiding in memory for those with Alzheimer’s disease. 

A study group of 135 senior men and women were enrolled and participated in six months of yoga classes and after reported an increase in happiness, well-being, and flexibility. Flexibility is especially important for senior citizens as they often fall or injure themselves while bending over or reaching for something.

The necessary focus and concentration needed for poses and meditation can also help the seniors with remembering things in the short term. A teacher frequently asks her class, “What pose is this?” in order to work their memory throughout class and emphasizes the importance on constant engagement with all students.

Many overlook the benefits of yoga believing it only helps with physical health without understanding the mental benefits it can have. Establishing a practice in everyday life can improve overall health for anyone that decides to participate.

Authored by Carolina Sewald. Carolina is currently a student at UCF in Orlando, Florida and just recently became a part of the Drug Dangers team. She is the content writer and focuses mainly on medical news and information."

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