Taruna Oils

Yoga for Older People

Can Yoga be Practiced by Older People?

Yoga practice is a great exercise for everybody. Yes, even for older people. Yoga for older people is considered to be a gift for them. Yoga for older people also helps them to gain freshness of mind apart from gaining only health and happiness.Yoga for older people is a rebirth, which teaches them to face the rest of their life happily, peacefully, and courageously.

Yoga can be a great benefit for older people no matter how restricted is the movement or shallow is the breath. They can even strengthen the spine, strengthen postural muscles and improve blood circulation. Yoga is the natural way to free them from the pains and nervous tension. There are some gentle yoga techniques for older people that can calm the mind and steady the breathing, and helps in relaxation.

First of all it is very necessary to understand the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual states of older people since it can change dramatically from the experiences that they have when they were younger. It is found that the sincere practice of yoga can even reverse the old age making the practitioners young. The problems with older people are mainly associated with blood circulation, rheumatic and arthritic pains, cramps and rigidity, which severely hamper their liberty of movement. Many of them may have a gradual decrease in the mental ability to remember things or lose full control of their bodies. Yoga for older people helps to decrease some of these problems.

It is important for older people to begin practicing yoga with gentle movements. The most important principle of yoga for older people is gradualism. It's ok if you start up with only warm up exercises for weeks or even months. Afterwards they can take yoga physical exercises step by step to a higher level. Yoga when practiced correctly is safe and brings with it numerous positive changes that can turn into joy and vitality no matter whether you are young or old.

One of the most important yoga practices for older people is pranayama or breathing techniques that can improve energy and concentration. Deep and controlled breathing will help older people to face the problems of old age with a more positive and relaxed attitude. There are 3 types of pranayama that are helpful for older people.

Ujjayi Pranayama

Ujjayi pranayama is the main type of breathing practiced and is characterised by a soft, deep, almost hollow sound coming from the throat. Ujjayi pranayama means breathing slowly through your nostrils that is about 4 to 5 heartbeats in and about 4 to 5 heartbeats out narrowing the vocal cords slightly as you inhale through the nose with the mouth closed. Doing this you create a soft and gentle sound in your throat, just like the waves of an inner ocean floating to the coast. You will hear the same sound inhaling and exhaling.

Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama

Anuloma-Viloma pranayama is a process of purification that strengthens the whole respiratory system. Sit in an erect position closing your eyes. Inhale through the left nostril, closing the right with the thumb. Now closing the left nostril with the ring finger and the little finger, exhale slowly through right nostril removing the thumb. After exhalation, inhale through the same nostril (right). Now closing the right nostril with thumb exhale through left nostril as per previous practice. This completes one round of Anuloma-Viloma pranayama. Repeat this 8-10 times.

Kapalabhati Pranayama

Kapalabhati pranayama also helps to strengthen the respiratory system since it purifies the nasal passage and the lungs. Sit in any erect position or in vajrasana. Contracting the abdominal muscles sharply exhale through both nostrils. Release the contractions quickly and immediately follow with another forceful exhalation. Inhale and relax the muscles, allowing the lungs to fill with air. Practice this pranayama very slowly and gently in short durations. After the round take a deep breath and gradually exhale. Repeat this for about 15-20 times.

Relaxation technique is also helpful to older people. Yoga relaxation technique is a necessary stage of every yoga routine. Since yoga is a connection between the spiritual and common world, relaxation technique is considered to be the stage, which safely brings you back to the present reality where you live in. Shavasana is one of the relaxation techniques where you have to lie down comfortably and meditate.




Related Articles
How to Meditate for Pain Control

Short Example of How to Meditate for Pain Control. Let us consider one example of how to meditate for pain control. Before meditation follow the following steps. Close your eyes and take 25-30 long deep breaths. This will help your body to relax and stabilize your breathing. Proper and stabilized breathing is a key point for your meditation. By the time you have completed 20 breaths you will feel relax and ready to meditate.


The Application of Yoga and Meditation in Various Cancer Treatments

Yoga's success as a treatment method is due to another hypothesis Raval proposes that 98 percent of all cancer is psychosomatic.


Astanga Yoga Vinyasa

Astanga, or sometimes spelled Ashtanga Yoga was originally taught today by a man named Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, in Mysore, India. He bought Astanga Yoga to the West about 25 years ago and taught until the age of 92 years of age. Astanga yoga began with the rediscovery of the ancient manuscript Yoga Korunta. It describes a unique system of Hatha yoga as practiced and created by the ancient sage Vamana Rishi. It is believed to be the original asana practiced intended by Patanjali.


Known Causes of Seizures

Seizure disorders involve periodic disturbances of the brain's electrical activity, resulting in some degree of temporary brain dysfunction. Here we are going to discuss known causes of seizures.


Stretching Exercises for improving Flexibility

Stretching exercise is a key component of a balanced exercise program. Daily stretching exercises will help you not only to maintain flexibility but also to improve it. Flexibility means being able to move your joints through their full range of motion


The Five Main Types of Alternative Medicines

Many people use alternative medicines in addition with conventional medicines to complement them. There are mainly five alternative types of medicines, which include different alternative medicinal treatments.


The Benefits of the Basic Yoga Sitting Asanas

Sit up straight with legs evenly extended in front. Bend the right leg at the knee and place the foot so that the heel is in the right groin and the front of the foot touches the left thigh. Turn the foot so that the bottom of the foot is facing upward and press the knee back to form an obtuse angle with the body. This position will be difficult at first; don't force it. Put a folded blanket under the knee and also under the hips. Gradually the knee will move farther back. Just keep the foot correctly positioned.


Yoga Zone Video for Beginners Offers Quality Instruction

Looking for well-produced fitness videos that are suitable for beginners can be a real challenge.


Stretching Exercises For the Neck and Back

Stretching exercises for the neck and back pain are important because they not only help to reduce pain but also can prevent future injuries or pains. It also helps to avoid stiffness and weakness.


Comprehensive Benefits of Surya Namaskar

The body-mind-spirit integration is probably one of the most important distinction that yoga has over other exercise routines. And in the case of practicing Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutations in Hatha Yoga, those benefits are placed at the forefront. And your ability to experience those benefits rely on your daily commitment into executing Sun Salutation exercises.


Achieving Flexibility In Yoga – Tips For Beginners

There are a lot of beginners flooding into yoga studios these days to enroll in a class and try to learn more about how yoga works and how they can adapt it into their everyday lives. But it is not as easy as it appears though. You need to be able to limber enough and achieve flexibility to optimize results.


Yoga Tips For Pregnant Women

Yoga is a holistic form of medicine. But it is not just used for medicinal or healing purposes but is also practiced by many due to its wellness benefits. Therefore, a lot of current yoga practitioners are regularly practicing it due to its ability to enrich the body and improve its ability to fight the causes of disease.


Basic Yoga Positions for Beginners

Yoga positions for beginners are easy to learn, simple and interesting to perform. Yoga positions for beginners help you to achieve joint flexibility.There are some basic yoga positions for beginners that will help you in starting up yoga.


Is Yoga useful in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Relief or Treatment?

Yoga practices are found to be very beneficial in multiple sclerosis relief and treatment. Yoga helps in multiple sclerosis treatment by strengthening nervous system and improving mental alertness.


What is Aum Meditation?

Aum meditation is a therapeutic process that takes you in a world beyond your imagination. The word aum is taken from Sanskrit word Om, which is so much powerful that it can remove your stress by bringing back calm and balance into your life. Aum meditation a highly active and interactive meditation gives you an opportunity to look into yourself, your emotional life and regain the joy of being alive.


Yogic Breathing for Those Who Suffer From Asthma

Yoga breathing exercises may help sufferers of mild asthma. These exercises may also help reduce their use of low-dose drug inhalers in wheezing attacks.


How To: Performing Surya Namaskar

The Sun Salutation Pose, also known in its Sanskrit name of Surya Namaskar is one of the most familiar poses in the ancient art of yoga. It is named as such due to the graceful flow of movements that appear to 'salute the sun'. But in reality, it actually is. Knowing the history of Surya and other mythical gods to which ancient Hindus worshipped, the same spiritual element of this particular yoga pose is still evident even with the practice of yoga today.


Do's and Don'ts for Yoga Beginners

In order to practice yoga safely and effectively, you need to learn about the basic “do's and dont's” that will help you get started.


Importance of Breathing in Yoga

Whether you are new to yoga or not, you have probably noticed how each exercise or yoga pose is often paired with breathing exercises. This breathing element, known in Sanskrit term as Pranayama, is vital during yoga practice and also enriches the benefits that is experienced in your practice. Read on below to find out what proper breathing does to your body and methods you need to learn.


Yoga for Asthma

Yoga for asthma is considered to be a powerful therapy, which reduces its frequency and intensity of asthma attacks. Constant practice of breathing exercises otherwise called pranayama and yoga postures increases the air capacity, lung’s airflow, stamina and efficiency.


Why is Alternative Medicine so Popular?

Now-a-days alternative medicines are gaining popularity. But do you know why is alternative medicine so popular? There are several explanations for the popularity of alternative medicines.


Surya Namaskar - Salutations to the Sun in 12 Steps

One of the best all-around yoga exercises or asanas is the 12-step salutation to the sun. Do it once or twice when you get up in the morning to help relieve stiffness and invigorate the body. Multiple repetitions at night will help you to relax; insomniacs often find that six to 12 rounds help them fall asleep.


Using Yogic Breathing to Relax

Yoga helps you to avoid falling into the stress mode of life. You can use your breath to relax, rather than stress, your mind and body. Yoga helps you to relearn that natural state that your body and mind want to be in: relaxation.


Variations of the Basic Yoga Asanas

Variations of the Basic Yoga Asanas


Surya Namaskar For A Healthier You!

Hatha Yoga is the term used to refer to the most basic style of yoga, which is one of the first yoga styles that beginners will learn. This is also when you get to initially encounter Surya Namaskar and learn how to properly execute the 12 poses in the series. Each of these poses have their own significance to the sequence, which are responsible for delivering the health, mental, and physical benefits that one can enjoy.


5 Yoga Myths Explained

Yoga is an ancient practice that dates to several years back in history. There are a lot of things to learn and understand about what yoga is about, such that those who are not involved or who have not dedicated themselves into learning those are unaware about the truth behind yoga. Hence, it is completely understandable how several myths have been created about it such that it blinds other from truly learning the truth about yoga.


Yoga as a Method of Stress Management

Yoga is a 3,000-year-old Indian discipline of mind and body that became known in Western society with the generations of the Sixties and early Seventies. Its image as a mystic practice is disappeared fast as the stressful aspects of the eighties appeared.


History of Surya Namaskar – How Was It Developed For Yoga?

Surya Namaskar, or more commonly referred to in the West as Sun Salutations, is one of the most basic yoga exercises that you will learn. It is known for its ease of performance and the wonderful rich benefits it can deliver both for the mind and body. But before you go deep into that, it is important to first gain an understanding on how it evolved by looking back into history.


Surya Namaskar For Increasing Physical Fitness

The practice of Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar is well praised by yoga practitioners and experts due to its astounding array of health and physical benefits. When it comes to increasing your physical fitness, there are a lot of notable benefits that you can enjoy. Read further below to find out more about what these benefits are and how you can acquire them.


Post your Comments on the articles
Your Email:
This will help our authors to reply you.
Comments:
characters left
Useful Products
Sandalwood - 15 ml
Abundance - 15 ml
Bergamot - 15 ml
Eucalyptus Dives - 15 ml
Idaho Balsam Fir - 5 ml
Melaleuca Alternifolia - 15 ml
Ylang Ylang - 15 ml
Harmony - 15 ml
Inner Child - 5 ml
Into The Future - 5 ml
Omega Blue Gel Caps - 90 ct
Be-fit - 120 caps
Orange Blossom Facial Wash - 4 oz
Cedarwood - 15 ml