Yoga is tremendously popular and there is no surprise why – it is a low impact workout that produces significant results. From a calming atmosphere to improving one’s flexibility and strength, Yoga not only helps in easing the physical body, but it can also help with anxious thoughts.

5 Reasons You Should Try Yoga

For the Exercise

Yoga is much easier on the body than running or lifting weights. The practice helps improve flexibility, endurance and strength through various poses and use of your own body weight. Additionally, yoga contributes to improved respiration, energy and vitality; maintaining a balanced metabolism; and weight reduction.

Improved Balance and Stability

As mentioned above yoga helps to strengthen the muscles, in turn, this can help improve balance, lessening the likelihood of falls as you age and protection from injury.

Keeps the Mind Sharp

Regular yoga practice improves coordination, reaction time, memory, and even IQ scores.  Scientists have found the brains of senior female yoga practitioners to have “greater cortical thickness in the left prefrontal cortex.” This area is associated with cognitive functions such as attention and memory. These results suggest that practicing yoga may be a way to protect against cognitive decline as we age.

Relief from Chronic Pain

It is common for adults to suffer from chronic pain in their joints and muscles, luckily yoga has been found to help with pain in these areas. In fact, a study from the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center found that after only 4 weeks of yoga, participants needed less pain medication.

The Expertise Element

While yoga can be done anywhere including in a studio, at a park, or at home, we suggest finding an online class being offered. Having something to do at a scheduled time helps ensure you complete the activity, and are receiving proper instruction from a certified teacher.

If you’ve always been fairly active and are in good physical shape, yoga may come easier for you. However, that is not a requirement to start. Many studios offer classes specifically for beginners or have sessions tailored to older adults. It’s also important to know that you can always sit in resting child’s pose or take a seated meditation if a posture is too difficult. Everyone has to start somewhere, so don’t push yourself. You will be a practiced yogi before you know it.

Namaste