Never too late

Caroline Newell of Berkhamsted’s Mandala Yoga discusses the importance of maintaining flexibility, strength and balance as we get older.

It is never too late to start practising yoga, and you will feel the benefits almost immediately. It can be fun, too.

It’s wrong to assume yoga is just for the young, slim and fit; it’s for everyone. As we age, maintaining an active lifestyle can become challenging, but exercise and physical health are important for everyone.

The benefits of yoga are numerous: Not only will yoga improve your physical health, mental health and wellbeing, but the poses can enhance flexibility, strength, balance and concentration. Yoga can help to improve your mood and therefore your social engagement, while reducing stress, anxiety and chronic pain. It enhances cognitive function and memory, and can help us sleep better.

Yoga can help anyone, including those with limited mobility, to remain fit and healthy. It can help us do all of these things we take for granted when we are young but which become more challenging as we age or have our mobility affected by accident or illness. Climbing stairs, putting on shoes and socks, enjoying gardening – even reaching for that tin of soup at the back of the cupboard.

Yoga poses gently lengthen and strengthen our muscles and the tissues which surround our muscles, joints and internal organs, which can help everyday movement. Yoga poses can improve balance, coordination and concentration and reduce the risk of falls.

Yoga can also help to alleviate stiffness and pain caused by arthritis, promoting better mobility and helping to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Just the smallest movement can be hugely beneficial and most poses can be adapted by using props such as chairs, cushions, belts and blocks. If you struggle with, or do not wish to get up and down from the floor, try chair yoga, which is just as beneficial as a traditional mat-based class. Yoga is for everyone regardless of age and fitness.

Give it a try. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.