Yoga has benefits for all people including children and seniors. The yoga techniques of stretching and breathing exercises always have positive effects on the mind and body. The relaxation, mobility, and overall wellness are some of the benefits of daily yoga practice. Well being doesn’t come on its own, it's earned through daily stretching and mindfulness. These simple to complex exercises can be done in the morning, evening, or before bedtime. Each yoga has its benefits that have more of a positive effect on well being the more you practice. Yoga can be a challenge if you want to push yourself otherwise it can be a leisurely exercise filled with gentle motions.
There are five types of yoga. The first is Hatha that includes physical postures and breathing. The second is Vinyasa, which is flowing movements. Third is Ashtanga that includes a sequence of postures. The fourth is iyengar that is alignment-focused. The last yoga is Kundalini yoga, the yoga that helps with spiritual awakening.
Since yoga has been around since 1000 BCE we can conclude that many studies have been done to verify the benefits and indeed they do. Many studies have taken place over the years that show results in brain and mood changes. Collectively, these findings suggest that yoga may be useful for mitigating age-related and neurodegenerative declines in older adults.(Madhivanan et al., 2021). Another study showed that seniors age 65 to 75 years who participated in 90 minutes of yoga classes once or twice weekly for a month, had significant reductions in state and trait anxiety scores. (Gururaja, 2011) These are both findings that support the idea yoga does have many physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
The discomfort that is caused due to anxiety or restlessness can be reduced through daily yoga practice. Anxiety about past events, future events, and even mundane boredom can practically disappear with daily yoga practice. The feelings in your gut just “burn away” producing an overall sense of well being while stretching keeps the body mobile and things accessible.
Works Cited:
Madhivanan, P., Krupp, K., Waechter, R., & Shidhaye, R. (2021). Yoga for healthy aging: Science or hype? Advances in Geriatric Medicine and Research. https://doi.org/10.20900/agmr20210016
Gururaja D, Harano K, Toyotake I, Kobayashi H Effect of yoga on mental health: Comparative study between young and senior subjects in Japan. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(1):7–12.