Quality sleep, strength, mental balance… The practice of yoga has many benefits for the elderly.
Yoga keeps seniors physically and mentally fit, says a new study. To draw these conclusions, the scientists synthesized 22 clinical trials already carried out on the issue. Various yoga programs were taken into account, ranging from 30 to 90 minute sessions. They then compared the benefits of yoga to those of other gentle physical activities, such as walking.
Reduction of depressive symptoms
The team found that in people aged 60 or over, practicing yoga improved their balance, flexibility and strength. It also reduced their potential depressive symptoms, increased the quality of their sleep and boosted their vitality. In addition, older people who practiced yoga were more likely to perceive their physical and mental health as satisfactory.
For flexibility, strength and depression, yoga was found to be more effective than walking. Previous research had already established the positive effects of this activity on anxiety and rheumatoid arthritis. “A large proportion of the elderly are inactive and do not meet the recommendations for balance and muscle strengthening established by international health organizations”, however deplores Divya Sivaramakrishnan, lead author of the study.
Indian philosophy
Yoga is practiced more and more. In the United States alone, 36.7 million people practiced yoga in 2015. In France, 2.8 million people practiced it in 2017, with a 20% growth in activity.
Yoga is a school of Indian philosophy that was practiced in India from the 3rd millennium BC. It is a discipline of body and mind that includes a wide variety of exercises and techniques. The techniques employed use physical postures (called asanas), breathing practices (pranayama) and meditation, as well as deep relaxation (yoga nidra).
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