For centuries, yoga has been known to produce positive results for health and wellbeing. It can even assist in improving the quality of life of mature people as evidence suggests yoga promotes healthy aging. As you grow older, your physical and mental health can deteriorate. Through yoga, you can go through the natural aging process with little discomfort and strengthen your body while calming the mind.

Value of Exercise

Regular exercise is recommended for seniors as well as people of all other ages in order to achieve good health. Frequent movement is particularly critical as you get older for energy, improvement of the immune system to fight off diseases and development of stronger bones for overall physical health. Whether you choose high or low impact exercises depending on your capabilities, there is no doubt that they boost your health and assist in coping with the physical and mental changes brought about by aging.

Benefits of Yoga on Aging

If you choose to practice yoga, it can offer many wonderful advantages. First, yoga helps build your strength by coordinating the mind with your body. It improves balance and coordination which not only prevents dangerous and even fatal falls, but also enhances mobility. Strong muscles and good strength also protect the body from the side effects of aging and even increases bone density.

Second, yoga helps improve agility. While many believe that it is only for people who are flexible, yoga on the contrary can help you develop flexibility. As you age, you will probably remark that you become stiff and experience more pain and aches which are normal as you mature. Improved and continuous practice of yoga creates flexibility. The muscles and connective tissues around the bones and joints are loosened reducing aches.

Third, yoga assists in the development of proper breathing techniques. As you learn to breathe properly, you raise oxygen intake that helps in relieving stress, lowering blood pressure and supporting detoxification. Proper breathing techniques learned through yoga also enhance metabolism which is at a slower rate as you age. Improved blood circulation, better mental health and good digestion are the other benefits of breathing correctly.

Last, yoga teaches you to be aware and mindful of your body's needs. Through meditation, it brings you to achieve a relaxed state that not only helps in relieving stress, but also gives the opportunity for you to assess your spiritual, mental and physical health.

Yoga does not claim to completely reverse the effects of aging on the mind and body. It slows down degenerative physical and cognitive functioning caused by growing older. What it does is to help you cope with aging and improve your quality of life as you enter your golden years.