It’s probably no surprise to you that exercise is good for people of all ages, including older adults.
The problem for some senior citizens is that it can be hard to find methods of exercise that they can do if they have mobility problems or at risk for falling. Even yoga, widely considered to be a safe and gentle method of exercise, might seem outside of your aging relative’s abilities. Or is it?
Many yoga studios offer a kind of yoga that is perfect for seniors who have limited abilities—chair yoga. It offers many of the benefits of traditional yoga but may be safer and easier for some older adults.
What Is It?
Chair yoga is, as the name suggests, a form of yoga done while sitting in a chair. Chair yoga modifies the poses and stretches done in a traditional yoga class to make them possible to do while in a chair. This makes it possible for even those who cannot get down on the floor or who are frail to do the moves. Seniors will practice moves like hip stretches, mild back bends, forward bends, and more.
Chair yoga does not require any special kind of chair. Any sturdy chair that the senior can sit comfortably in will do. If the senior is doing chair yoga at home, a dining room chair will do just fine. The only kind of chair that won’t work well is one with wheels since the chair should not move while the older adult is exercising.
What Are the Benefits?
Chair yoga offers the same benefits of traditional yoga, with the added benefit of being easier for older adults to do. By practicing chair yoga, seniors will experience the following benefits:
-Relaxation: Yoga uses controlled breathing that helps to release stress and promotes relaxation.
-Flexibility: The stretches and moves used in yoga help to restore flexibility to joints.
-Reduces Pain: Many older adults who try yoga report that they experience less pain due to arthritis or other conditions.
-Increases Strength: Using muscles helps to make them stronger.
Where to Go for Chair Yoga
Chair yoga is sometimes offered by senior centers. You may also be able to find a yoga studio in your community that has a chair yoga class. You can even find chair yoga workouts on the Internet by searching for “chair yoga videos.”
If your aging relative is interested in trying chair yoga, an elderly care provider can drive them to a class in their community and help them to get set up in a chair. An elderly care provider can even help them to find a class by calling the local senior center or contacting yoga studios. If the older adult would prefer to exercise at home, an elderly care provider can help them to find an online video and set up a chair to exercise in.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Walnut Creek, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
Sources
Dailycaring.com
Sixtyandme.com
Verywellfit.com
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