Yoga has long been recognized as a valuable tool for helping people relax their minds and bodies. Yoga, a dynamic Indian form, has long been connected with bringing the body, mind, and spirit together. When performed correctly and on a regular basis, the different asanas or poses can yield tremendous effects. Furthermore, consistent yoga practice can improve the mental health of a mature individual. Here’s how yoga and seniors’ mental health are so linked.
What Causes Mental Health Issues
We refer to being in a great ‘state of mind’ when we’re comfortable. However, as you get older, your mental health may suffer for a variety of causes, which can lead to more serious problems.
Isolation. Rejection. Low self-assurance. A sense of helplessness. Mood swings. As people age, a lot of pessimism creeps into their thinking. It’s not unusual, but what looks to be a little mood swing can swiftly escalate into a long-term mental condition that can lead to more serious consequences. According to the World Health Organization, “perceived efficacy, subjective well-being, competence, intergenerational reliance, self-actualization and autonomy of one’s emotional and intellectual potential” are all important factors.
Benefits of Yoga for Mental Health
Let us look at some of the unquestionable advantages of doing yoga to help dispel any doubts you might have:
- Yoga helps you be more mindful
Because yoga focuses so much on attuning yourself to your physical being, an added advantage is the increased awareness of Self that comes with regular practice. You will become more connected to and attentive to your community, your world, and the immediate environment as your yoga practice centers you on not only your body but also your emotions and overall spirit.
- Yoga lowers anxious energy
Yoga courses, especially those aimed toward your older loved ones, are tranquil and therapeutic, soothing your body and mind. Yoga can lessen your sympathetic nervous system’s fight-or-flight reaction, which otherwise creates inflammation of various types and can wreak havoc on your mind. Yoga practice entails focusing on the breath and moving slowly, which can help to activate your parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress and anxiety.
- Yoga helps you breathe better
As people get older, they develop respiratory problems and have a lower tolerance for physical activity. Anything that reduces the amount of oxygen in the lungs might have a detrimental impact on the mind and body. A 12-week yoga program has been proven to enhance breathing in older women in recent research. Life is built on the foundation of breathing. Humans can spend weeks without food, but they can only go a few minutes without air. As such, it’s important to keep your lungs in good working order at any age.
Yoga Builds Mental Resilience
Yoga’s influence on your family members’ mental health is going to be better than most alternative forms of therapy for their age bracket. It is an extremely therapeutic type of exercise and relaxation.
Discovery Village At Stuart is an excellent, resort-style accommodation for your loved ones that gives them full autonomy over how to shape their retired lives. Our Dimensions Health & Fitness program includes an easily accessible fitness center, with an instructor-led yoga class that you can join. Book a tour of our beautiful grounds today, and learn more!
