Yoga for Seniors is the Best

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Yoga for Seniors- I believe that yoga can be adapted for all ages. From children to seniors, yoga can last through a lifetime. When I teach seniors, I focus on the following things:

• Emphasize steadiness and ease in poses over attainment of the asanas.
• Use props- bolster for tilt of hips in sitting up straight, strap for reaching forward to toes, block for reaching to the floor, and chairs for balance support.
• Emphasis on breath for stimulation of circulatory and respiratory systems.
• Provide time for rest between asanas and focus on stimulate vs release.
• Include moderate strength and resistance activities to build muscle strength and maintain bone density.
• Use standing asana to encourage ankle strength and balance

Yoga for Seniors is for the Best People!

This is my client Judy. She is 82 years old. She had a stroke 30 years ago and has a drop right foot. She has been doing yoga for longer than I have been her teacher. She is a champion of yoga. We work on balance by using a bar attached to the mirror. We work on opening her chest in side bends. We work on stimulating her joints with gentle, repetitive movement. We build strength in her hips by holding a leg in the air. We focus on opening her inner thigh and hips on the dropped foot side. And we stretch, and stretch, and stretch her legs. But look at the joy on her face!

I am 82 years old and yoga training with Abby is empowering!  She addresses my specific needs at each session and I am definitely becoming stronger under her tutelage!

Judy Smith

Yoga for seniors is an excellent discipline. We have ample props and modifications to adapt the discipline to any body. 

Another example of adaptive yoga is Chair Yoga. See the below for ways to adapt yoga to a chair. Chair Yoga can benefit Seniors, those with balance issues, pregnancy, and recovering from surgery or injury.