Thriving at Home (July 2015)
by Sarah Lane
Many health experts say Yoga slows the aging process. Here are four reasons why you should consider practicing yoga now and continue to do so for proper senior care as you age:
Balance. The primary component of many yoga poses is balance. The ability to balance involves both your body and brain. By incorporating yoga into your weekly exercise schedule you can improve your balance and reduce your chance of falling. One out of every two women and one out of every four men over 50 will suffer a fracture related to a fall. The balance poses practiced in yoga can improve the communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, improving your agility.- Flexibility. Yoga creates flexibility, which may help reduce many aches, pains and stiffness that come with age. Yoga can also increase spinal flexibility. Your spine has many nerves, muscles, and ligaments that serve as connections to areas throughout your body, so keeping your back in top condition is one of the best things you can do for both your back and your overall health.
- Strength. Yoga builds strength slowly and safely. Strong muscles increase bone density. Weight bearing poses like Downward Dog, Cobra and Plank, can reduce the chance of fractures as you age.
- Breathing. Yoga can increase your lung capacity. Improving your ability to take in more air increases energy to all of your cells and helps us “get up and go” as we age. Proper breathing can also improve digestion and has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Have these wonderful benefits motivated to add Yoga to your fitness regime? We hope so. Start by finding a Yoga class near you:
- Currently, the Lacey Senior Center offers Yoga classes on Mondays 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Fridays 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Chair Yoga on Tuesdays 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. The cost $4 per class and is paid to the instructor. A membership to the Senior Center is required which costs $15 for 3 months or $40 for a year. Call 360-407-3967 for more details.
- The Olympia Senior Center offers Gentle Yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Chair Yoga on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Membership to the Senior Center is required at $40 per year, with a quarterly class registration of $20. The classes cost $5 each, which is paid to the instructor. Call 360-586-6181 for more information.
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“Thriving at Home” is a monthly column by Sarah Lane, a certified Home Care Aide and owner of FirstLight Home Care — South Sound. To learn more about home care, respite care, dementia care, or any of the non-medical home care services offered by FirstLight Home Care, give Sarah a call at 360-489-1621 or go to www.southsound.firstlighthomecare.com.