Yoga Articles Yoga Exercises

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Digestion also becomes slow and sluggish. The muscles lose their tone and strength, causing them to become hunched, while their gait becomes slow and unbalanced.

Exercises for the elderly have musculoskeletal and cardiovascular benefits. Exercise would help strengthen the heart muscles and kick-start a sluggish blood circulation. Exercise aids greater intake of oxygen leading to better function of all the internal organs such as the brain and digestive organs. The muscles and bones become more flexible and stronger, leading to better balance, posture and help to ward off (or delay) osteoporosis.

Caution: Any exercise is good enough. Always remember to start slow and easy and gradually increase the time and difficulty of the exercise as you become stronger. However, it is better to consult your doctor before you start an exercise program, in order to rule out any problems or risk factors. Also, once you start an exercise program, try to do it regularly for really long term benefits. It may also be advisable to stay away from high impact exercises like jogging or aerobics, since they may cause extra strain on the heart, bones or muscles. Take necessary precautions and stop immediately if you feel any discomfort, pain or breathlessness. Consult your doctor as soon as possible in such a situation.

Types of exercises: Walking is one of the most popular exercises for the elderly. You may walk slow or fast, for short or long distances, in the morning or in the evening. While you can walk alone, having a companion makes it more interesting.

Swimming or water exercises are also very beneficial for the elderly since they do not impact the bones too much. You can also pick gardening, cycling or dancing if that is what you find interesting.

You may also like to join some regular exercise programs like tai-chi or yoga which have slow, gentle and smooth movements.

Yoga: Yoga provides gentle exercises for the elderly. It is especially beneficial because it helps in bringing about a physical as well as mental and emotional balance. Yoga postures can help to strengthen the back muscles and improve posture, while at the same time reduce back-aches. They also help to calm the mind and release tension, thus reducing sleeplessness and insomnia, which plague many elderly people.

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