Written by Amelia Evans, Guest Writer
If there is one thing that most of us hate, it is definitely the truth that we are all growing older. We cannot stop it, yet we can adapt to it. It should not be feared, as there are several ways to embrace this reality with grace. One of which is practicing yoga.
Yoga is known to have significant benefits to one’s mind, body, and soul. It works by bringing together both the physical and mental aspects to achieve total peace. It helps manage stress and anxiety, making it the best relaxing activity for those who need it the most.
If you are unsure which yoga poses work best with aging, trying out these six yoga poses should help in the long run:
Side Angle
It is a common fact that once you grow older, you are most likely going to develop bad posture as gravity starts to take over your body. Performing a side angle helps you stretch both sides of your torso, helping to maintain your spine’s length and mobility. Moreover, this pose helps you strengthen your legs, hips, and your back. It is recommended to regularly do this pose to reduce experiencing back pain that is usually experienced as you age.
Locust
If you want to be more active as you age older in life, you need to ensure your lower back is in great condition. Performing the locust pose allows you to lift your back and make an arch to carry it off the ground. It helps in improving your shoulders and upper back’s mobility. Moreover, it helps in building strength to your back’s spinal muscles that deteriorate through time.
Tree Pose
Once you fall or trip when you get older, the higher the risk you experience. It will take you a long time to heal, and it could affect your range of motion forever. Thus, practicing the tree pose helps you maintain and practice your balance. Moreover, it helps you to be mindful of your feet and to stay focused. This way, you could experience reduced anxiety and stress levels.
Pigeon
Many know that you develop a level of arthritis in your joints once you age and experience discomfort and pain. To alleviate pressure and torque, performing the pigeon pose is the most effective. It helps you maintain stability, enabling you to stretch and open your hips most efficiently.
Hero Pose
If you become less active in your day to day activities, your body’s psoas muscles start to tighten. This leads to severe back pain and discomfort. Performing the hero pose helps in releasing the psoas and open your thighs. As you do this regularly, you will notice stillness in your shape, helping you relax and sit comfortably.
Seated Wide Angle Forward Fold
It is vital to stretch your hamstrings as failure to do so regularly could injure your legs and back. To avoid this from happening, performing the seated pose helps you fully stretch your hamstrings to strengthen your legs and release your low back.
Many people are still unfamiliar with how yoga works and how it helps greatly advance life’s aging process. According to Jane Byrne, project manager at a nursing home in Kildare, “Practicing yoga regularly can be beneficial to the cardiovascular, muscular, digestive, skeletal, and immune system of one’s body.” The list goes on, actually, and you will never know how fascinating the experience is unless you try. Yoga does not take much of your time as it can be done at any time of the day. Ten minutes a day makes a lot of difference. So, what are you waiting for? Move your body to the most beneficial activity your body deserves —yoga!
About the Author
Amelia is part of the content team at The Long Reach and works for various international brands. When Amelia is not researching and writing she loves nothing more than heading out in to the country for some downtime.
Leave a reply