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Yoga and Seniors: Fighting the Aging Process

Therese M. Pope | April 28, 2008

According to the U.S Census Bureau, by 2050 there will be 86.7 million people age 65 and over in the United States. The International Osteoporosis Foundation reports that
1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50 years old will suffer from osteoporotic fractures due to bone density loss. The American Diabetes Association states that 8.6 million Americans (age 60 and older) have Type 2 diabetes.

The top five causes of death amongst seniors are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. These statistics depict a staggering reminder that seniors’ lives are at serious risk.

Yoga for Health in Seniors

However, seniors are attempting to defy these statistics by turning to yoga to help fight the aging process. Yoga produces positive, healthy results for seniors. Yoga increases flexibility, eases joint problems and pain, helps with back issues, increases bone density, strengthens weak muscles, regulates blood pressure, improves circulation, and reduces insomnia.

When I first began my yoga practice, I took a class through a recreation district with mostly seniors. The majority of the students were in their 70s and my yogi (instructor) was in his 80s. I initially thought he was in his 60s because of his sparkling vitality and powerful strength. I marveled at how flexible and energetic these seniors were as they twisted and stretched. Many of the students had arthritis and they always mentioned how yoga helped alleviate the pain in their joints.

Barbara Lawrence, a yoga instructor who works with the senior population, noted that most of her students suffer from diverse injuries and illnesses.

“I have one student who needs a double knee replacement so I do a lot of modification from a chair and others have lower back issues and spine conditions. I also have a breast cancer patient who just underwent surgery.”

A Gentle Exercise for Seniors

High impact exercise such as aerobics, weigh training or running can be jarring on seniors’ bodies. Yoga offers a gentler, alternative form of exercise which is still highly beneficial. Yoga can also help seniors with sagging, wrinkling skin. Yoga helps with the resiliency of the fascia (strong connective tissue which isolates the muscles and protects and supports the body).

Seniors not only gain physical benefits from their yoga practice, but positive mental health benefits as well. Seniors can sometimes suffer from bouts of loneliness, depression, anxiety disorders, and boredom. As seniors age, they retire from busy careers and children grow up and leave home. They are now faced with more time on their hands which can contribute to mental health issues.

Providing a Sense of Community for Seniors

Yoga provides seniors with a feeling of unity, connection and spiritual growth (especially if they participate in yoga classes with other seniors). Many senior centers and home community centers are catching on to this yoga trend and are offering more yoga classes to seniors (at nominal costs to seniors who are on fixed incomes).

Seniors who embody yogic lifestyles are glowing, healthy testaments that despite age, they aren’t going to let their aches and pains slow them down with their exercise regime. Yoga is helping them maintain their vitality and quality of life and as a result, seniors will longer.