According to the National Council on Aging, approximately one out of every four Americans age 65 and older falls every year. Falling has long been one of the most common ways older people get injured, and many times it’s preventable. You can adjust your living space and outdoor area to help reduce the risk of falling by installing grab bars and other assistive solutions, but it’s also important for senior living to increase strength and balance. One of the most popular outdoor activities for seniors is yoga. Here are some important benefits of yoga for seniors.
Improves Balance To Help Prevent Falls
When an older person is asked how they fell, their answer is often “I lost my balance.” Losing your balance is scary and sometimes there’s nothing you can do to get it back when you’re in the middle of a fall. Older people tend to have balance problems if they move around less than they used to, do fewer exercises and don’t realize their muscles have weakened as a result. Different yoga poses can focus specifically on strengthening the legs and core muscles, which can directly improve balance. The more stability seniors have, the better their balance will be and the more enjoyable senior living will be as a result.
Reduce The Risk Of Medical Issues
Proper blood flow is critical for healthy senior living. Certain yoga poses are designed to be low-impact and easy to do even if balance is a concern, so most seniors can participate in the movements. Practicing yoga over several weeks or months could reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure, maintain glucose levels, cholesterol levels, stabilize the heart rate and much more. Medical professionals often suggest that their patients participate in yoga as part of a treatment plan if someone had a recent surgery or was diagnosed with a medical condition.
Relax The Body And Mind
Senior living can be stressful for a variety of reasons. They may be dealing with medical issues they didn’t have before, current events may be more concerning to them and much more. Yoga is a great way to regulate hormones to relax the mind and the body as a result. Reducing stress levels is important for everyone, especially for seniors. Keep movements steady and slow and focus on breathing throughout the process. The more you can relax the body, the more effective each yoga session will be.
Next Day Access understands how scary it can be for seniors to fall. Our goal is to equip your home with the right products to ensure you feel safe moving around at all times. One of the most popular products we install is grab bars, which helps give you some peace of mind if you have balance concerns. Grab bars are great to have even if you’re actively practicing yoga to improve your overall balance. If there’s anything we can do to help give you peace of mind regarding your mobility, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.