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If you are over age 65, you may be experiencing some of the more trying aspects of aging. Many seniors report having decreased levels of physical mobility while having higher levels of anxiety, stress, depression, and substance addiction. If this sounds like you (or someone you care about), meditative yoga may be able to help. Keep reading to learn how to get started with meditative yoga to help address some common age-related challenges.

Setting Up Your Space

The first thing to do as you prepare to start a meditative yoga practice is to decide where you’ll practice each day. Some people, especially beginners, prefer to start at a licensed yoga studio, where they can learn from a trained professional. Others, such as those who are shy or are more intermediate yoga practitioners, prefer to practice in the comfort of their own home. Whatever the case may be, a meditative yoga room is highly recommended. You might choose a spare bedroom or even a corner of a room. The important thing is to make sure that the space is calming and soothing to you, and that you won’t be distracted or interrupted during your practice.

Next, you’re ready to start practicing – and experiencing the following benefits of meditative yoga:

Physical Mobility

What was once seen as a young person’s exercise, yoga is increasingly being practiced by people across all age groups. In fact, it is estimated that 17 percent of yoga practitioners are in their 50s, while 21 percent are over the age of 60.

So, why should you choose yoga? As we age, our bodies can become more prone to stiffness, muscle ache, joint pain, and injury. By gently stretching the muscles, yoga can reduce overall musculoskeletal pain while simultaneously increasing strength. Stretching is also great for stress relief, and it’s recommended you add it to your daily routine. For instance, stretching can release tension in the body, ease arthritis pain, and loosen age-related stiffness. As your physical ailments melt away, you’ll feel lighter and less weighed down by stress.

Yoga is often commonly used as a preventative exercise to combat muscle injury by keeping muscles adaptable to change. Evidence suggests that meditative yoga can reduce the risk of severe falls by improving balance. Enhanced strength, flexibility, and balance can help seniors live a more independent life. After adding yoga into your life, you may find that stiffness and pain is reduced and everyday activities such as walking, cooking, and chores become easier.

Mental Health

It is estimated that as many as one in five seniors experience a mental health concern as they age. Anxiety, depression, and stress are among the most common mental health concerns among those age 65 and up. Mental health issues are often difficult to treat because they stem from a number of interconnecting genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. That being said, there is evidence to suggest that mental health can be improved through increased exercise, reduced muscle tension, and enhanced mindfulness.

Yoga can help draw a connection between the physical and spiritual self and can increase feelings of relaxation, groundedness, and connectivity. Clinical psychotherapist Erin Wiley recommends yoga to her clients because it builds positive skills in coping, stress management, and relaxation. For seniors suffering from anxiety, stress, or depression, yoga can strengthen inner reflection and mindfulness, which can improve overall mental health.

Addiction Treatment and Recovery

Addiction among seniors is often the result of loss, depression, life changes, and/or declining health. Alternatively, an individual may have struggled with addiction throughout his or her life with the adverse physical and mental effects becoming more apparent with age. To help people overcome addiction, treatment facilities are increasingly taking a holistic approach to addiction treatment. These facilities focus on improving the overall well-being of the individual in addition to addressing the addiction itself.

To help people connect their physical and spiritual self, this new holistic method often incorporates yoga. Increasing the connection between mind and body has been proven to increase self-confidence, facilitate emotional healing, and help people manage stress. Meditative yoga can also improve a person’s ability to make positive choices through increased personal reflection. The feeling of personal wholeness associated with yoga can aid immensely in addiction treatment and recovery.

With yoga swiftly gaining popularity, it is clear that millions of people are seeing the incredible benefits yoga has to offer. If you want to tackle some of the most common age-related physical and mental challenges, start connecting your mind, body, and spirit through meditative yoga. Enhanced physical and mental health can aid immensely in helping you live a meaningful, independent life regardless of age. If you are interested in starting a yoga regimen, begin by talking to your doctor.

Pets Provide Significant Health Benefits By Rachel Blankmeyer, DVM

Some of our closest companions, especially as we age, are our four-legged friends. The human-animal bond provides many benefits to people who may otherwise be isolated due to emotional, behavioral, or physical problems. Research shows several health benefits of pet ownership for older adults, including lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels. A study by Friedmann & Thomas in 1995 showed that pet ownership actually resulted in increased survival rates after a heart attack. Other studies have shown that pets may provide social support similar to that of a family member for older adults. Consider additional general health benefits such as weight control and stress reduction, and pet ownership seems like a win-win situation!

You may have heard of the Alzheimer’s patient study performed by Edwards & Beck in 2002, where persons with Alzheimer’s disease observed a facility fish tank and demonstrated improved relaxation, alertness, and eating habits. This is a huge deal for patients dealing with dementia because at least 50% experience weight loss, increasing the mortality rate and progression of disease. Stroke survivors may also specifically benefit from animal companionship through improved communication, dexterity, mobility and balance. As a veterinarian, I may be biased, but the facts don’t lie: animals help all of us have a more active daily life, and can enrich our lives emotionally! So, consider the cost-benefit ratio:

Adopting your new forever friend from your local shelter…$35
Pet food for one month…$10
Years of companionship and improved health…priceless.

Many seniors lead active lives after retirement, and while some individuals have physical or mental limitations that prevent them from doing so, most want to remain in their own home for as long as they can. When faced with the choice of moving toward assisted living or staying comfortable in the house they have lived in for years, there’s no question of which is the more appealing option. Yet for every senior, safety and comfort are two of the most important concerns when considering aging in place.

It can be difficult to think of all the things one must take into consideration when aging in place; not only does the home need to be assessed for hazards, it’s also important to think of how you will handle daily life should you choose to live alone. Think ahead and consider the changes you might go through in the next few years; will it be a problem to climb stairs? Take care of the garden or lawn? If so, there are things you can do to combat the issues, but it’s best to plan ahead.

Here are some of the best tips for aging in place safely.

Communication

It’s imperative to have a good communication system with friends or family members. If you have a cell phone, make sure to program the phone numbers of all the important people in your life so they will be easily accessible. Landlines should have a list of important numbers beside them, in large print. It’s also a good idea to install a phone in the bedroom and/or bathroom, in case of emergency.

Safety

If you have throw rugs in your home, consider discarding them or checking to make sure the corners don’t turn up to create trip hazards. They also need to have non-slip backs. Living areas and stairwells should be well-lit, and chairs and toilets need to be at a good height for getting up without risk of a fall. The bathtub should have a non-slip mat and a grab rail or shower seat.

It’s also a good idea to wear sturdy, rubber-soled shoes or slippers; this can prevent falls or other injury. Clear all walkways of clutter or furniture that could trip you up.

The reality is that your home may just not be a good fit for aging in place safely, particularly if you have any disabilities. Don’t be afraid to consider the option of moving. You can still buy a home to live in rather than going to an assisted living facility.

Accessorize

Think about the things you might need to assist you in daily activities, such as a long-handled shoehorn, a walker, a rubber-soled cane, and medication. It’s a good idea to keep these things organized, in reach, and in good working order.

Get some help

When it comes to living alone, from time to time you may need some help. Enlist a capable family member or friend to assist you in financial planning, cleaning, lawn work, or traveling if you aren’t comfortable driving yourself. You might also consider getting a service animal; they can be extremely helpful to seniors in daily activities and can provide comfort, company, and stress relief.

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