Is it good for the elderly to practice yoga?

Nowadays, many elderly people are practicing yoga. Since some yoga movements involve excessive stretching, is yoga suitable for the elderly? Generally speaking, yoga is suitable for all kinds of people, including the elderly, but you should practice it within your ability. Let us explain in detail whether yoga is suitable for the elderly. What kind of yoga is suitable for the elderly?

Yoga can better help the elderly to relax their muscles and bones, strengthen their limbs, and speed up blood circulation. Many yoga movements can regulate high blood pressure, heart disease, and cardiopulmonary function. In addition, practicing yoga helps to stabilize your mood, maintain a sense of spiritual joy, and plays a certain role in regulating your mood.

However, some elderly people with underlying diseases are not suitable. For example, patients with osteoporosis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, etc. should be careful when practicing. In addition, the elderly have relatively stiff bodies and are not suitable for large-scale body-beautifying movements. Therefore, yoga practice should focus on simple fitness movements.

It is recommended that the elderly consider their own conditions when exercising. Brisk walking, cycling, swimming and other exercises are more suitable for the elderly, but jogging and mountain climbing put a greater load on the knee joints, so long-term exercise is not recommended for the elderly. If these programs are performed occasionally, special attention should be paid to preventing complications.

Here are some yoga poses that are very suitable for middle-aged and elderly friends to practice. Since towels are often used in the learning process, it is called towel yoga:

Sit down with your legs lightly crossed and start yoga meditation. You can choose the loose lotus pose: cross your feet and place them under your legs, or you can choose the half lotus pose: one leg is placed on top of the other.

The Cow Face Pose can help us correct the spine, making it soft and upright, and can prevent or even treat spinal diseases. If you practice every day, your spine and shoulders will feel much more comfortable. When your spine is healthy, you will naturally look younger and more energetic. I believe this is also the original intention of many middle-aged and elderly people to join the yoga team. At the same time, it can also help us treat frozen shoulder and frozen shoulder. Note: If holding hands is not possible, you can use a towel to help you complete the pose by holding both ends.

The pigeon pose can strengthen the side muscles of the waist and buttocks, reduce excess fat on the waist, buttocks and hips, make the shoulder joints flexible, and stretch the arm muscles. When you first start learning this posture, you may encounter a little difficulty, it’s okay, just take your time. Still holding both ends of the towel, feel the stretching of your body muscles. As you practice more and more, you will find that you are gradually improving.

It is important to remind you that you should not have a competitive mentality when exercising. Don’t think that if others can do this movement, then I can do it too. Never try to be competitive. When practicing yoga, you must proceed step by step. Everyone's flexibility is different. Don't be impatient and don't compare yourself with others, otherwise you may easily get hurt.