Health and Me

Aarushi Bhadury

A Beginner's Guide To General Fitness For Elderly

Yoga For Elderly (Credit-Freepik)

As we age, our bodies and minds change, and at different paces for everyone. Some people might experience physical changes that make daily tasks a struggle, while others might feel more mental shifts. This can include lowered confidence, less flexibility, and balance issues. There can also be changes in digestion, breathing, and heart function. These bodily challenges can lead to sleep problems, low mood, and a general decline in well-being. 

Here is a <span>yoga</span> sequence that you can follow to ensure healthy and happy ageing, making it easier for your body to go through this natural process. 

Stand tall in the centre of your mat with your feet hip-width apart. Let your shoulders and neck relax, keeping your whole body loose. You can close your eyes or gaze forward. To open your body and mind, try alternate nostril breathing. Close your left nostril with your right ring finger and breathe in slowly through your right nostril. Then exhale slowly through the same nostril. Repeat this for 12 cycles. This right nostril breathing (also called "sun" breathing) helps warm up your body, which prepares your muscles for movement. After 12 breaths, relax and let your arms hang by your sides. 

Loosen up your shoulders with this gentle stretch! Raise your left arm out to the side at shoulder height. Inhale and reach your right arm up to gently clasp your left wrist. Then, use your left arm to softly push your right arm towards your left shoulder blade. Hold this stretch for 2 slow breaths, focusing on smooth and even breathing. This helps open up any tightness in your upper arms near the shoulders. Release and repeat on the other side. 

After loosening your shoulders with the arms stretch, take a few breaths to relax in Mountain Pose (standing tall with arms at your sides). Now, roll your shoulders! Raise your arms up slightly and make 3 slow, forward circles with your shoulders, breathing comfortably for 6 breaths. Then, in the reverse direction, make 3 slow backward circles with your shoulders for another 6 breaths. Remember to keep these movements gentle and avoid any jerky motions. 

Gently unwind your neck after the shoulder rolls. Take a breath and begin slowly rotating your neck in a circle. Start by tilting your head to the side, then turn as far as feels comfortable, bringing your chin towards your shoulder. Continue circling back to the center and then repeat on the other side. Do 2 rounds of these slow circles, inhaling as you begin and exhaling as you complete the circle. Take your time and avoid any jerky movements that might cause discomfort. 

Loosen up your sides with this gentle bend! Stand tall with your arms at your sides (Mountain Pose). Inhale and reach your left arm up overhead. As you exhale, bend your torso slightly to the right, reaching your left arm over towards your right side. Feel the stretch along your left side and the lower part of your back. Hold for 2 breaths, focusing on opening your chest without straining any muscles. Release and repeat on the other side. 

Unwind after the side bend with some gentle twists. Stand tall in Mountain Pose and take a few breaths to centre yourself. Now, place your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand behind your right hip. Inhale and gently twist your torso to the left, looking over your left shoulder. This twist helps release any tension in your shoulders and neck. Hold for 2 breaths, then exhale and repeat on the other side, placing your left hand on your right shoulder and your right hand behind your left hip. Hold for 2 breaths on this side as well. 

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As we age, our bodies and minds change, and at different paces for everyone. Some people might experience physical changes that make daily tasks a struggle, while others might feel more mental shifts. This can include lowered confidence, less flexibility, and balance issues. There can also be changes in digestion, breathing, and heart function. These bodily challenges can lead to sleep problems, low mood, and a general decline in well-being. Here is a yoga sequence that you can follow to ensure healthy and happy ageing, making it easier for your body to go through this natural process. Tadasana Variation Feet Hip WideStand tall in the centre of your mat with your feet hip-width apart. Let your shoulders and neck relax, keeping your whole body loose. You can close your eyes or gaze forward. To open your body and mind, try alternate nostril breathing. Close your left nostril with your right ring finger and breathe in slowly through your right nostril. Then exhale slowly through the same nostril. Repeat this for 12 cycles. This right nostril breathing (also called "sun" breathing) helps warm up your body, which prepares your muscles for movement. After 12 breaths, relax and let your arms hang by your sides. Tadasana Deltoids StretchLoosen up your shoulders with this gentle stretch! Raise your left arm out to the side at shoulder height. Inhale and reach your right arm up to gently clasp your left wrist. Then, use your left arm to softly push your right arm towards your left shoulder blade. Hold this stretch for 2 slow breaths, focusing on smooth and even breathing. This helps open up any tightness in your upper arms near the shoulders. Release and repeat on the other side. Standing Shoulder Rolls After loosening your shoulders with the arms stretch, take a few breaths to relax in Mountain Pose (standing tall with arms at your sides). Now, roll your shoulders! Raise your arms up slightly and make 3 slow, forward circles with your shoulders, breathing comfortably for 6 breaths. Then, in the reverse direction, make 3 slow backward circles with your shoulders for another 6 breaths. Remember to keep these movements gentle and avoid any jerky motions. Neck Rotation And Massage Gently unwind your neck after the shoulder rolls. Take a breath and begin slowly rotating your neck in a circle. Start by tilting your head to the side, then turn as far as feels comfortable, bringing your chin towards your shoulder. Continue circling back to the center and then repeat on the other side. Do 2 rounds of these slow circles, inhaling as you begin and exhaling as you complete the circle. Take your time and avoid any jerky movements that might cause discomfort. Eka Hasta Parsva Bhanga Variation  Loosen up your sides with this gentle bend! Stand tall with your arms at your sides (Mountain Pose). Inhale and reach your left arm up overhead. As you exhale, bend your torso slightly to the right, reaching your left arm over towards your right side. Feel the stretch along your left side and the lower part of your back. Hold for 2 breaths, focusing on opening your chest without straining any muscles. Release and repeat on the other side. Standing Side Stretch Pose Unwind after the side bend with some gentle twists. Stand tall in Mountain Pose and take a few breaths to centre yourself. Now, place your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand behind your right hip. Inhale and gently twist your torso to the left, looking over your left shoulder. This twist helps release any tension in your shoulders and neck. Hold for 2 breaths, then exhale and repeat on the other side, placing your left hand on your right shoulder and your right hand behind your left hip. Hold for 2 breaths on this side as well. 