Geriatric Yoga

Yoga honors the aging process: Poses can be modified to every body type and level of ability, making classes accessible to anyone willing to step onto the mat. And the philosophy of the practice encourages witnessing and accepting what is happening in the present moment.
Yoga is also empowering: Regular practice boosts energy, increases flexibility, decreases aches and pains, all of which leads to feeling—and even looking—younger and more vital. Finally, a growing body of research is showing that a regular practice offers tangible health benefits. It has been shown to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol; help keep weight gain and depression at bay; and ease chronic conditions like back pain, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. In short, doing yoga defends against some major killers—heart disease, stroke, and diabetes—and the aches that make aging a real pain.

You’re only as young as your spine is flexible. Asanas done in a seniors’ class are frequently offered in a modified version, with extra time spent doing gentle stretches to warm up the neck, back, shoulders, feet, and hands. There’s usually ample time allotted for Pranayama, too. “Breathing is the biggest problem as we age. Poor posture happens over time and compresses the lung area, so breathing gets shallower. Rhythmic, mindful breathing is one of the first things we emphasize, and students start feeling better, lighter.

The twilight years aren’t always peaceful and stress free, of course, and many seniors say that learning to let go during Savasana (Corpse Pose) or a guided meditation has been yoga’s biggest gift.

In the end, what makes for a meaningful, enduring yoga practice, one that will sustain you year in and year out, doesn’t change over the decades. It’s about self-acceptance, seeing yourself as ageless and timeless.

As the body becomes more rigid with age, it’s important to cultivate softness and suppleness.