Yoga for the Elderly - Seniors' Way to Be Fit

Growing Old is the stage when you have more time for yourself, your family, for leisure, recreation and relaxation. However, it is also the time when you are more susceptible to some ailments that are linked to old age like Arthritis, rheumatism, incontinence, and High Blood Pressure. This raises the need for the seniors to stay fit and healthy during this age. Though the degeneration of the body also set some limits to the types of exercises they can do. This leads to the practice of milder forms of exercise such as jogging, brisk walking, and even Yoga.

Yoga is a form of exercise that adapts to your needs and abilities that it can be done even by Senior Citizens and Pregnant Women, and deals with your whole being. It makes your body fitter, the mind calmer and more relaxed. Yoga is also beneficial in the prevention and control of common health and emotional problems that is linked with Old Age. It helps you in becoming more in touch with yourself and your body enabling you to accept who you are and the state you are in which creates a positive approach in life.

Some Yoga Asanas are designed to normalize your blood pressure and balance the Nervous System and are essential in the prevention of heart ailments and problems in the nervous system. The Breathing Techniques can make you feel refreshed and cleanses the air passages which can help prevent respiratory ailments.

In practicing Yoga, know your body and respect its limits. Do not push yourself too hard in a pose. Yoga can only be effective if you practice it properly. The harder you try, the more you expose yourself to injury. Do not put more stress to your already stressed out body. Remember that Yoga aims to quiet the mind as you exercise the body. If you feel pain, stop what you are doing. The following is a Basic Yoga Session for the Elderly. You do not have to do all the poses, stop when you already feel tired.

Yoga Session for the Elderly

		Kapalabhati Kapalabhati is a Breathing Technique used specifically for cleansing. If you have a lot of mucus in the air passages or feel tension and blockages in the chest it is often helpful to breathe quickly. This article will introduce you to this breathing techniques and show you its its benefits.

		Easy Sitting Pose - Sukhasana This seated yoga pose translates as both 'joy' and 'comfort'. Practiced from the mat, it is a comfortable pose for yoga meditation. This yoga position also aligns the energy system, chakras, of the body to create balance and positive direction.

		Cat Stretch Pose - Vajrasana A deep backbend, this yoga position strengthens the muscles of the torso. Exercise with this pose for several rounds to bring heat and flexibility to the spine, releasing toxins and stimulating the internal organs.

		Downwards Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana One of the most popular yoga poses practiced in the West, this asana rejuvenates, releasing tension from the hips, abdomen, and back of the legs. However, this yoga position requires complete consciousness during yoga practice and the mind must be engaged on the proper position of the entire body.

		Staff Supine Pose - Viparita Karani Staff Pose in Supine Position forms a foundation for alignment. This is a balancing posture, bringing both energy and soothing qualities to restore and rejuvenate the body and mind. Practice this position to relax the spinal column for more intense yoga postures.

		Half Spinal Twist Position - Ardha Matsyendrasana This yoga position works by massaging and stimulating the internal organs. Its therapeutic affect relieves constipation and dyspepsia and also cleansing the liver and kidneys. Half Spinal Twist Yoga Position should be practiced carefully and with Complete Breath as it works the back intensely.

		Locust Pose - Salabhasana This yoga pose stretches the spine, exercising and strengthening the abdomen and back. It requires deep core strength and lumbar flexibility. The Locust Yoga Pose is one that is learned gradually through a series of yoga classes to get comfortable and stronger. The mind focuses and mind-body connection sharpens with this yoga practice.

		Knee to Ear Pose - Karnapidasana This yoga pose is a complete extension of the spine, allowing the therapeutic fluids to bathe each vertebrae. Knee to Ear Yoga Pose is an advancement of the Plough Pose, the length from the knees to the toes is parallel to the ground. The skull becomes the root of the posture and allows for a gentle stretch of the neck.

		Corpse Pose - Savasana A yoga pose for complete relaxation is challenging first with the mind. Yoga practice usually includes this position near the beginning or end of asana practice, as therapy for fear, hypertension, insomnia, and even psychosis.