What's New in the World of Yoga:

Yoga is ageless. Unfortunately, our bodies are not. We have often heard the saying "with age comes wisdom," but we all know that it can also bring a few additional aches and pains. For maturing adults, it is well known that maintaining an active lifestyle is vital to ensuring continued overall health and well-being.

One of the most common concerns for seniors is falling, which can result in traumatic consequences, ranging from hip replacements to serious head injuries. Recently, a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that "nearly 16% of all Americans over 65 have fallen at least once." Jennie Chin Hanson, President of the American Association of Retired Person (AARP), acknowledges that exercises that help to develop "strengthening, flexibility and balance can make a significant difference in minimizing one's chance of falling."

In another study conducted by Temple University's Gait Study Center, Dr. Jinsup Song determined that seniors enrolled in a yoga program specifically designed for those over 65 showed a marked improvement in their flexibility, posture and balance.

For seniors who are seeking to maintain an active lifestyle, yoga is rapidly becoming a viable means of maintaining mental and physical health. As an alternative to more aggressive exercises, senior centers and rehabilitation programs are now offering adapted yoga classes for seniors. Typically, these classes are designed to slowly take senior students through a gentle series of yoga poses. This may include teachers using chairs to assist students in completing a forward bend or physically supporting the seniors as they flow into a triangle pose. Slow, elongated stretches and quiet meditation can also help relieve muscle tension and increase flexibility, agility and balance.

Special attention is also paid to poses that require more weight-bearing on the wrists. If not handled properly, it can acerbate strained joints and muscles. One product that can help to support this area is the ergonomically designed Wrist Assured Fitness Gloves, which is uniquely capable of reducing stress and pressure on the wrist, and enabling the individual to keep moving with ease.

Additional Resources:

John Schlorholtz, an experienced yoga instructor at the Harvard University Center for Wellness, has a series of DVDs entitled "Chair and Standing Routines" and "Floor and Standing Routines".  For more information on this excellent series, check out Ageless Yoga.

Suza Francina is a certified iyengar yoga instructor and the author of "The New Yoga for Healthy Aging: Living Longer, Living Stronger and Loving Every Day," a practical step-by-step guide on the practice of yoga for maturing adults.

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