Benefits of Chair Yoga
Benefits of Exercise as We Age
In general, exercise is extremely important to help people remain as healthy as possible at all points in their lives, including as they age. Chair Yoga is a gentle form of exercise that comes with many wonderful benefits and really is accessible for anyone.. “If you can breathe, you can do yoga” — T. Krishnamacharya
Dementia and Alzheimer’s
For those living with these diseases, Chair Yoga can be a very complimentary therapy. It has the potential to improve quality of life and help to preserve cognitive abilities. Yoga teaches us to be in the present moment, and when living with memory loss associated with dementia, life is all about the moment.
Here are potential benefits of practicing yoga with Dementia and Alzheimer’s:
Increased circulation, respiration, and range of motion, helping to prevent falls and prolong mobility
Improved body awareness: increased interception (awareness of signals happening within the body), proprioception (awareness of the body in space), and kinaesthesia(movement awareness)
Increased vagal tone (associated with the vagus nerve), helping to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” nervous system) after a stressful response
Improved function of attention networks that help us stay alert and vigilant, prioritize sensory input, and exert executive control or (the ability to handle conflict and carry out goal-directed behaviour)
Improved hemispheric communication across the corpus callosum (a band of nerves connecting the right and left sides of the brain, allowing information to pass between them), which correlates with improved brain function
Greater ability to deal with pain
Increased focus on one's strengths and remaining abilities
Enhanced sense of well-being
Improved self-regulation and emotional regulation
Reduced reactivity of the amygdala, which correlates with reduced stress response
Increased telomerase, the rejuvenating enzyme that slows cell aging
The ability to reverse the effects of chronic stress
Parkinson’s Disease
The issue of mobility has important implications for falls in Parkinson’s Disease. Chair Yoga participation can improve functional mobility and how a person with Parkinson’s Disease walks. Here’s how yoga may help with Parkinson’s symptoms:
Lessening slowness and stiffness: Chair Yoga can help reduce the feeling of slowness and stiffness often experienced by individuals with Parkinson’s
Improving balance and flexibility: Chair Yoga practice can enhance balance and flexibility, especially in the hips and ankles
Increasing muscle strength and power: Chair Yoga exercises focus on strength and flexibility while incorporating specific breathing techniques
Relaxing blood pressure: Chair Yoga may help regulate blood pressure
Controlling weight gain: Regular practice can contribute to weight management
Better mood and sleep: Many people report improved mood and sleep quality after practicing yoga
Enhancing breathing strength and lung capacity: Breathing exercises in yoga can improve lung function
Social Interaction: Attending group Chair Yoga classes provides an opportunity for social interaction and being more socially active
Decreased Mobility
The experience of disability is often worsened by a lack of flexibility and mobility. The less mobile we become, the more withdrawn and socially isolated we can become. This leaves us less inclined to engage in the kinds of physical activity that would help us maintain our flexibility. So we can get into a vicious circle in which our disability worsens.
Chair Yoga offers a gentle means of maintaining and improving flexibility and mobility. Whether you are in a wheelchair or recovering from a fall, hip or knee replacement, Chair Yoga is adaptive and all our teachers are trained at tailoring the poses, using equipment to deliver a safe and effective class suitable for all participants.