Encouraging Health

If there were a way to feel full of vim and vigor in your golden years, wouldn’t you want to know about it? Well, here you go: Strike a pose.

That’s right. Even if you’ve never tried yoga before, regularly practicing some simple yoga stretches and poses when you’re older can give you back some of the energy and flexibility of your younger years. Here’s a laundry list of all the other health benefits.

Feelin’ Fine and Lovin’ It
After 6 months of taking beginner yoga classes, men and women ages 65 to 85 reported feeling more energized compared with how they felt before their training. They also:
Had less pain in their day-to-day lives.
Felt more outgoing socially. Strong social ties may help you stave off future bouts of the blues.
People who had strong, emotionally supportive relationships were least likely to suffer episodes of depression in a recent study. Although anyone can benefit from strong social ties, the emotionally protective effect of good relationships was strongest for the women in the study. Make an effort to schedule face time with friends this weekend.

Although a recent study revealed a reduction in depression risk for women with strong social connections, both men and women can benefit from supportive relationships because social support is an excellent coping mechanism during stressful times. Having strong, supportive relationships can help assuage the aging effects of stress on the body. For people who are prone to bouts of the blues, getting enough (but not too much) sleep, eating a healthful and balanced diet, practicing stress reduction strategies often, and getting regular exercise are habits that may help improve mood. For blue moods that last longer than a few weeks or recur frequently, see your healthcare provider.

Had better balance. (How long can you stand on one leg?

Experienced greater flexibility in their trunk and limbs. First, Pretend You’re Gumby . . .

Use your mind to help your muscles go from stiff to supple the next time you’re doing a full-body stretch.
Put another way: pretend you’re Gumby. Researchers have found that people who vividly imagine lengthening and moving their arms or legs find stretching easier to do. And that could lead to greater flexibility gains. So close your eyes and envision your muscles getting longer and looser whenever you stretch.

In a recent study, three groups of volunteers (30 people in all) went through a 4-week flexibility program. While all the groups emerged with more limber bodies, two of them applied their minds as well as their bodies to the process. One group visualized moving the limb they were stretching, while the other imagined the physiological process of stretching, trying to “see” their muscles elongating. Both of these groups found their flexibility workouts easier to do than the members of the control group did . . . yet they still got at least the same flexibility gains. Sweet.

Heart Helper
Yoga may be good for your heart health, too.

Here’s something that will make your heart feel good, too!

Yoga

Yoga