Individuals in retirement living in White Rock may find it difficult to find exercises that they are able to do safely. Chair yoga is an amazing activity that offers different levels of difficulty while being gentle and gradual in building strength, balance, and mobility. Every week, Pacific Carlton offers chair yoga classes, along with a variety of other activities, for our residents to enjoy. Chair yoga is great for people with mobility issues who find it difficult to get on the floor or sit up, seniors who have arthritis and experience joint pain, those at risk of falling due to vision impairment or mobility issues, those who can’t stand or hold a position for long periods, those with balance issues or vertigo, or those who have had a stroke. Yoga exercises enable seniors to stay active and improve muscle strength and flexibility without risking muscle strain. Here are some of the great benefits of chair yoga for seniors!
Increased Flexibility
Flexibility is essential in performing most daily tasks, which means it is important to stretch, bend, and twist every day. Those who practice chair yoga push their bodies to maintain and increase flexibility, improving overall mobility. Being flexible is important for reducing the risk of strain-related injuries.
Muscle Strength Growth
Although slow and gradual, chair yoga builds muscle strength with each pose. Building strength improves balance and mobility, which protects your body from injury. The different poses of chair yoga help build and strengthen different muscles in a safe and inclusive way that all seniors can participate in.
Balance
When practicing chair yoga, you are required to transition from one pose to another, which improves spatial recognition and enhances overall balance and coordination. Holding poses also helps develop balance in those participating.
Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Yoga is a mindful practice that requires the participant to focus on their breathing and movements. This causes their mind to be focused on the body instead of stressful thoughts or to-do lists. The movements typically flow and are meditative, promoting relaxation while being an exercise. Parts of yoga require you to meditate, helping you to relax and rid your body of stress. Chair yoga can also help fight depression and anxiety in seniors living in retirement communities. A research study supports that yoga can reduce the symptoms of depression among people of all age groups, including those above 65 years old. The focus needed for yoga and chair yoga helps you to relieve any negative feelings associated with life, allowing you to leave the session feeling refreshed and light.
Increase Endorphins and Reduce Pain
Exercise naturally helps release endorphins, which are our body’s natural painkillers. Any exercise, including chair yoga, can release these helpful hormones! Endorphins also increase positive moods, which is one of the many benefits of exercising. Practicing chair yoga requires participants to focus on their breathing, which is beneficial in coping with pain from existing injuries, weaknesses, or sensitivities.
Sleep Better
Exercising regularly is essential for consistently good sleep. Regular exercise regimens help regulate your body’s sleep-wake cycle and improve sleep quality. Chair yoga uses the right amount of energy exertion to get all the benefits of exercise without reaching the point of fatigue, strain, or injury.
These are just a handful of the many benefits of chair yoga at a retirement community in White Rock! Participants are able to benefit their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through this gentle yet effective practice. Interested in learning more about Pacific Carlton, what we offer, or seeing a chair yoga class live? We’d love to have you visit our community for retirement living in White Rock, BC. Call (604) 531-1160 to learn about when you could visit Pacific Carlton.
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If you’re looking for a VRS seniors retirement community that offers a variety of recreational activities, we are here for you. Feel free to contact us to inquire about this VRS location. Call (604) 531-1160 to arrange a tour at Pacific Carlton’s warm and friendly independent seniors community.