The Benefits of Chair Yoga for Seniors

As you age, it is important to keep your body moving to ensure it continues working and functioning properly for as long as possible. However, joint pain and achy muscles can derail your fitness regimen. Fortunately, with the right, simple exercises, you can alleviate some of the pains that come with aging while also staying fit. One exercise that can help keep your body in shape is chair yoga.

Here are some ways chair yoga can benefit you or your senior loved one.

What Is Chair Yoga for Seniors?

Chair yoga is a low-risk and low-impact form of yoga that can be performed while sitting in a chair. It is a safer form of yoga that is recommended for those with weak joints, which is commonly the case for seniors. All that is needed is an armless, stable chair, making it an easy exercise to try from the comfort of home.

5 Benefits of Chair Yoga for Seniors

For seniors, the benefits of chair yoga are plentiful. Some of the exercises’ health benefits include:

1. Stress reduction
2. Improved circulation
3. Better balance
4. Enhanced flexibility
5. Increased strength

Furthermore, chair yoga is also incredibly affordable and accessible, making it a great exercise for someone who lacks access to heavy equipment.

Top 3 Chair Yoga Moves for Seniors

While it may seem like sitting in a chair will limit your range of motion, there are actually many different chair yoga moves. The top three chair yoga moves for seniors include:

1. Overhead stretch – This move is great for improving posture. To begin, stretch your arms up towards the sky and slowly lower them down. While doing this, it is important to sit up straight, keeping your back against the chair and your core engaged.
2. Cat-cow stretch – While sitting, stick out your chest and arch your back as much as you comfortably can, hold for a few seconds, and then round your back by curling forward. The arch is the cow position, and the rounding is the cat motion. This move is great for adding more flexibility to the spine.
3. Neck stretch – For this move, look upward while stretching your neck, place your left hand to your left temple, and reach down and hold the seat of the chair with your right hand. Then, gently dip your head toward the left while taking slow breaths. After holding for a few moments, switch hands. This move is excellent for alleviating neck pain.

An Active Community for an Active Lifestyle

At Encore at Avalon Park, our staff understands the importance of keeping the senior in your life active. Not only do our community’s residents enjoy comfortable accommodations and healthy meals, but they also get the opportunity to benefit from all sorts of recreational and social activities. If you’re looking for a senior living solution in Central Florida that will prioritize your beloved senior’s health and well-being, then Encore at Avalon Park is the place for you.

Call us today at 407-270-7500 to schedule a socially distanced virtual tour and discover why we are Central Florida’s premier senior living solution.