Yoga For Senior citizens

How do you envision your 50+ years to be??

Smiling and pleasant persona, calm demeanor, agile and healthy body so that you can embrace each moment of your golden phase of life with enthusiasm( no tension of exams, no hurry to run to the office, no tension of overtime and minimum responsibilities thus the term golden phase !!) Sounds great isn’t it?

But this phase is also brings with it the process of natural wear and tear of body, making the body vulnerable to the various diseases like arthritis , diabetes ,high blood pressure etc. Nevertheless to tackle them and to make sure that they are controlled, you should initiate yourself into regular yoga which would help you to enhance your stamina and prevent the ailments from enveloping you. As per Ayurveda, post 60 there is increased vata in the body, due to which many circulatory disorders such as hypertension, diabetes and problems of joints like varied kind of arthritis result. Hence, it becomes essential to practice vata shamak (vata suppressing) yoga practices.

Why yoga and not any other exercise?

The vyayayams and asanas that are practiced in yoga are not at all rigorous. Each of them is formulated in such way that they are energy conserving, provide complete relaxation to your body. It also helps to overcome the stiff joints and back pain which after 50+ becomes a common problem, without involving any kind of pain. Furthermore, yoga helps to strengthen internal organs muscles and improves digestive system. Plus meditation helps to keep anxiety and depression away, providing a peaceful attitude. No other exercise like strolling, jogging is useful enough because they involve too much of physical strain which can prove tiring and even painful in case of stiff joints. Neither do they incorporate overall body’s exercise including internal organs too which is required to keep you hale and hearty. Besides physical work out, nothing is implemented to keep mind calm and composed

What kind of yoga should be done by me?

A series of gentle exercises, to open up all the joints of the body – sukshma vyayama, breathing exercises and meditation practices should be incorporated in your regime, each of which will help you to gain healthy body and relaxed mind. The asanas followed by the vyayama help in improving the blood circulation in the body thereby maintaining a good health of all the systems

How would yoga improve my health?

Before you begin yoga, especially at this crucial age, it becomes important that the practices should be designed or taught considering the state of the body. If there are any joint problems, then the practices should include more vyayama, however, if there is any other problem like diabetes or any cardiovascular issue, then the practices should include a few specific asanas (meant for the condition) & appropriate pranayama . If the body is in a normal state, you can practice the vyayayams and asanas without worries. Yoga boosts blood circulation, builds immunity and strengthens respiratory and nervous systems. It prevents heart ailments and builds stamina. In addition to it meditation helps you to have a calm and composed mind.

What if I have surgical complications?

In case of surgical complications, first and foremost you should consult your doctor about your ailment in detail. Secondly, your yoga instructor should be well trained and skilled enough to understand your complication so that your exercises may be planned accordingly.

I am not able to sit on the floor, can I still do yoga?

Yoga, being very flexible fitness regime, can be adapted to best suit your needs. So if sitting postures prove to be challenging and painful you don't need to worry at all. Standing and lying down asanas will be continued till you are completely comfortable with ones which require you to sit. Yoga isn't a practice which is meant to make you even a bit uncomfortable, but to relax and prove comforting at all times. Thus you don’t need to force your body to do anything which exceeds the limits it can bear.

I seem to have a combination of issues at this age (which I believe must be pretty common), how should I then initiate yoga?

A combination of issues is very common. Diagnosis in Yoga is on the basis of the principles of Ayurveda, hence, when you start with Yoga therapy, the combination of issues must be studied by the therapist & the disturbed body constituent (vata, pitta & kapha) shall be identified & accordingly the therapy shall be initiated.