It’s probably no surprise to read that yoga is considered an excellent way to help both your mind and body age in a healthy way. With its emphasis on deliberate physical poses and movement, accompanied by a focus on breathing and mindfulness, yoga is considered a valuable way to strengthen muscles, improve balance and extend flexibility, along with important benefits for our aging brains. While we’ve previously touted the health benefits of a yoga practice, perhaps now more than ever, after many sedentary and solitary months, and as the weather begins to send us back indoors, it’s important to recognize that virtually anyone can take up yoga, with little expense or fuss, and with favorable results, even if your mobility is limited or you’re otherwise unable to engage in strenuous exercise.

Let’s review some of the physical and mental health benefits of yoga. First for your physical health: While you may not realize that the flow into various poses and purposeful breathing amount to a good physical workout, in fact, many forms of yoga can help you build strong muscles and would help you meet the CDC recommended guideline of at least 150 minutes a week of dedicated exercise. Yoga is also considered a gateway to lifestyle habits that promote healthy aging, such as stress reduction and better sleep (both important for heart health). As for your mental health, there is evidence that yoga can strengthen parts of the brain that support memory and attention, so as to counter age-related declines. There are even “yoga therapists” who utilize yoga breathing techniques and other aspects of yoga to address such mental health concerns as anxiety or depression.

So what’s stopping you from beginning a yoga practice? Clearly, as an older adult, you may have concerns that you can’t move gracefully, or can’t bend sufficiently. Perhaps you have a disability that limits your physical activity and leaves you worrying about injuring yourself. While it’s considered a safe endeavor for most people, there are definitely factors to consider before starting. For example, different styles of yoga emphasize different physical poses or breathing exercises, so you may want to check in with your physician before starting and you definitely want an instructor who specializes in dealing with older bodies or physical limitations. There is even a website, Yoga For Seniors, that offers workshops and products specifically geared for older yoga practitioners and also has a locator for finding senior yoga specialists in your area. You may even consider an approach to yoga called “adaptive yoga,” which meets you where you are physically and brings the benefits of yoga without posing risk or causing pain. To find out more about this option, breathe deeply and click here and here.