Seeds2TreesYoga

While beneficial, we all need to be aware that Yoga is for everyone however there are different levels for different ages. Yoga can be a good way to stay fit for Seniors, when it is practice with the supervision of a professional and certified instructor like Jackie Smith who specializes in therapeutic yoga for seniors and people with health challenges. 

 

In the Washington Post Article we read this quote:

“Teaching yoga at a senior center is an entry-level job in many communities, which means they’re putting the least-trained people with the hardest crowd,” says Gale A. Greendale, a professor of medicine and gerontology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “There’s often a cacophony of preexisting conditions in this age group, and a yoga teacher has to be very skilled to not get older adults into trouble.”

 

Senior Yoga Benefits with Jackie Smith in Arizona

 

• Reducing heart rate

• Control blood pressure

• Relieving anxiety and depression

• Helps with back pain, hips, knees, & shoulders

• It is fun

Matthew Taylor, director of the Dynamic Systems Rehabilitation Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. says “People with osteoporosis should work individually with a yoga instructor who has specialized training until cleared to safely participate in an appropriate group class,” past president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Safely practiced, yoga can be extremely helpful for older adults since “age and gravity are the tartar of our skeletal system,” he says. “Yoga is like postural dental floss. Just as we brush our teeth twice a day, we should do two, five-minute yoga practices a day. It doesn’t take a lot — just a few minutes to slow down, turn inward and move with attention.” This simple practice can help seniors learn — and be able to maintain — good posture, he says, which can enhance comfort, balance, respiratory function and mood.

For those interested in taking a yoga class, a good first step toward avoiding problems is to watch the yoga class and make sure the pace and moves being taught seem appropriate to your physical condition. Consider also whether the instructor explains the moves well and creates a non-competitive environment where students are encouraged to challenge themselves without straining. Be sure to start where you are — not where you think you should be — and if a move hurts, back off the pose. Talk with your teacher about modifications, and be honest and patient.

 

With the right class and instructor, you are likely to feel more relaxed and energized after your first class. Over time, you may experience enhanced strength, flexibility and balance. But pushing yourself to do too much, too soon can be a setup for injury.