Wellness across the ages – Intergenerational yoga sessions at Kalma Life
No matter how old we are, or what milestone we are reaching, yoga has the power to improve all of our lives!
With age comes a number of wonderful gifts – wisdom, maturity, experience, perspective – but time can take a toll on our minds and bodies. As we get older, it’s important to take time to ourselves to work on ensuring we stay as physically and mentally healthy as we can! Yoga is a powerful tool that can be utilised to improve a number of areas within our lives, which is why we are proud to offer intergenerational yoga. Our sessions help people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of yoga and companionship together as one.
According to Age UK, 1.4 million older people in the UK experience loneliness and feel cut off from society. Our intergenerational classes provide a happy, new and exciting environment allowing people of all ages to interact and befriend those who they otherwise may not have met! In our sessions we are able to form bonds, have fun and take care of our wellbeing all at the same time.
The greatest benefits that our intergenerational sessions provide older people with is…
Helping to aid respiratory system
Our sessions are accessible to all including those who aren’t able to endure a great deal of physical exercise anymore. We encourage all of our yogis, regardless of age or stature, to go at their own pace and pay attention to their breathing. This not only allows for the meditation properties of yoga to be enjoyed but also promotes mindfulness. Recent studies have shown that a short 12-week yoga program resulted in significant improved respiratory function elderly women.
Reducing high blood pressure
High blood pressure affects more than 1 in 4 adults in England and 80% of people over the age of 65 have measurable high blood pressure. This is a very serious problem and can lead to other complications if not managed efficiently. Yoga has been proved to reduce oxidative stress in the elderly, which is one of the underlying causes of high blood pressure.
Helping to relieve pain
As we get older we often begin to notice pain in our joints, our backs, and general difficulties with mobility. This can make exercising painful and often discourages older people from engaging in physical exercise which can worsen mobility issues further. As yoga is a form of physical exercise that can be adapted to suit the abilities of each person, it is a fantastic way to ensure you stay mobile and active. Recent studies conducted in the U.S found that older people who engaged in adaptive yoga, reported greater mobility, and less pain within 8 weeks.
Combating loneliness and isolation
Our intergenerational sessions offer older people the opportunity to interact with others. It offers a change from their normal routines and allows for new and unlikely friendships to be formed. No-one wants to feel alone, and with our sessions – no one has to! It is a wonderful way to connect people of all ages, together focused on having fun and improving wellness across the ages.
We are proud to be able to offer these services and support for the members of our community, regardless of age. We love to share the joys of yoga across generations, bettering the minds of bodies of all who attend. To find out more about our intergenerational sessions and how you can get involved, visit kalmalifeuk.co.uk or speak to a Kalma Life teacher today.