Yoga for Seniors

See article below written by Emer Duffy

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Yoga of the Life Force

by Emer Duffy

Mind body exercises such as Yoga have been demonstrated to be an effective holistic, side effect free method to maintain wellbeing. The practice of Yoga and Meditation has boomed over the past decade with people of all ages and walks of life are reaping the benefits. Along with this boom in practice there has also been an increase in research and there is now an impressive amount of evidence to support and encourage us to invest some time in our own well being.

In my practice as an Occupational Therapist I encourage all of my clients to try to find a mind body exercise such as Yoga, Meditation or Tai Chi that fits their routine and interests. It can take time for these practices to become part of our daily lifestyle so it’s useful to choose a practice that is achievable within your schedule.

One style of Yoga that I teach regularly to over 65s across Dublin is Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. This practice places equal emphasis on Yoga movements and Meditation to give the body, mind and brain a workout. Don’t let the name put you off, Kundalini simply means “life force”, and it’s a practice that very gracefully boosts vitality using movement, mantra (chanting) and meditation. Kundalini Yoga is a considered a very effective, safe and efficient way of increasing energy levels.
One of the main advantages of Kundalini Yoga and meditation is that you can reap benefits even with only short practice times. Many people start at 3 minutes and increase times as they feel confident. A practice that I teach (and have researched as part of an M.Sc) called “Kirtan Kriya” only takes 12 minutes a day. This meditation has been researched with people with Alzheimers Disease and their carers and has been associated with increased blood flow in the brain and improved brain skills, mood, fatigue, stress levels, quality of sleep and blood pressure. My research involved looking at the benefits of Kirtan Kriya for those with Parkinson’s Disease. This short, simple and free practice was associated with improved higher level brain based skills such as planning skills. Enhanced mental and emotional wellbeing have also been observed as well as boosting immune system function. Kirtan Kriya is one of many practices that are offered at a Kundalini Yoga Class. Kundalini Yoga is dynamic, fun and incredibly efficient. It can offer a challenge yet is accessible for everyone.

So how do you get started?
Looking for a Kundalini or Hatha Yoga group or a 1:1 class is a good way to start. The Irish Association of Kundalini Teachers is a resource to find Kundalini teachers. Contact the teacher in advance to find out if the class will be suitable for over 65s. If you require a gentle or seated Yoga class, many teachers will advertise this as Chair Yoga or Gentle Yoga and Chair Yoga. Your local community centre may run a class that would be suitable. If you require a Yoga Therapist to address a specific health condition, Yoga Therapy Ireland has listings of therapists across the country. Alternatively, you can also start with the simple and effective practice of Kirtan Kriya as outlined here.

I am fully convinced that everyone in the world at every age would benefit from some form of Yoga and meditation, it’s just about finding the right style that fits. Kundalini Yoga offers a wide variety of movements and meditations that may just be the right style for you.

Always check with your medical practitioner first and if you have any conditions please inform the Yoga Teacher. Common contra-indications include avoiding stress to the spine if suffering from Osteoperosis or Osteopena avoiding bandhas (locks) or breath of fire if suffering from high blood pressure and listening to your body being gentle in cases of injury or strain. It is advisable to start with simple and gentle exercises and to progress slowly always listening to your body and respecting limitations.

www.livinglife.ie "