Holistic Movement Center
845 Napa Ave, #A Morro Bay, CA 93442   Ph: (805)-909-1401

Yoga for the Different Stages in Life

I often hear seniors say “I am too old to do Yoga.” My answer is always that no one is too old to do yoga. Just like no one is too skinny, too big, too stiff, too weak, too anything to do yoga. Yoga is for everyone! However, there is a big difference between what your yoga practice should be when you are 20, 30, 50 or 70 and more. The practice should change as the body changes.   

In Yoga Rahasya, the author refers to the need to take into consideration the individual’s stage in life while practicing yoga, respectively: youth, midlife and old age.  When one is young, the body is in the growth stage. In this stage a more rigorous forms of yoga are appropriate – like vinyasa, ashtanga, power yoga, etc. With proper breathing this “artful” form of yoga helps the young body grow and develop with good physical health and mental stability.  The young body is transforming daily. Building strength and challenging one’s limits are an essential part of yoga for the young.  As the hormones are changing behaviors and confusion become part of everyday life for a young person. Anxiety, self confidence, authenticity are all issues that a balanced, challenging and grounding yoga practice can address at this stage of life.

During midlife, where the body is neither growing, nor decaying, the yoga practice takes more of a physical therapy approach. More precision, less vinyasas, good yogic breathing, meditations, chanting, etc. In the midlife stage the main requirement is to stay healthy so one can meet the demands of daily life and the responsibilities of having a job and a family. This is the stage when one has to achieve results – personally, and professionally.  The pressure builds mentally and physically at midlife. Stress is constantly present as people multitask, juggle kids sports with work deadlines and taking care of one’s parents.  Headaches, chronic tightness in the shoulders, neck, and back, injuries from caring children or lifting heavy things improperly, sitting for prolong periods of time in front of a computer or an office desk with all the postural, and occupational hazards this entails, and many other, are all concerns at this stage of life.  Therefore, one’s yoga practice should be less “achievement” oriented, and more of an opportunity to reconnect with one’s self, realign the body, correct the posture, deepen the breath to relax the nervous system, take care of injuries, and restore calm.

As one ages, the body begins to decay – metabolism changes, bone density changes, disease seem to find their way into the body much easier. In this stage yoga practice should be directed toward maintaining mobility and balance more than anything else. Also, as death approaches, one must begin to prepare for that event, so the yoga practice should include more meditation, along with study and reflection on one’s life and spiritual teachings.  Some specific benefits yoga provides for the elderly body include: reduced blood pressure and maintaining a healthy heart function; maintaining proper weight; maintaining good range of motion, gaining strength and balance enabling the body to prevent falls and injuries; keeping the spine in proper alignment reducing the need for chiropractic adjustments and considerably lessening chronic back aches and pains; improved circulation to the feet and hands; improved digestion and metabolism; improved breathing which helps with conditions like asthma; improved sleep at night and many more.

For everyone there is a yoga class. It may take a little searching to find just what works for you, but you should take the time to do it. Finding a class that meets your needs – not too easy, not too hard, just right, with a teacher that you resonate with, will help you appreciate yoga and be more consistent in you practice. The practice is only helpful if it is a regular part of your life. Do not decide that yoga is not for you based on one visit to one class with one teacher. Look around. When you find what suites you best, than commit to 2 or 3 classes per week for a month. You will be impressed by the changes. 

For the interested senior, I recommend you find a senior yoga class, or a gentle yoga class. Be careful, because some classes although advertised as such don’t really offer what they promise and if you happen upon such a class you will get the impression that yoga is too hard and that you can’t do it.

On the other hand, if you have a serious condition that needs special attention, consider private instruction. Make sure the instructor is familiar with the condition and knows how to apply yoga in order to help you. Yoga should not be substitute to a proper medical attention. You should consult your doctor before committing to yoga.