Movement is everything. From your first steps in the morning to walking around the grocery store, movement is everywhere, and it is often taken for granted.
Staying active is important, especially for seniors. The loss of strength and stamina attributed to aging is in part caused by reduced physical activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Andre Beaulne teaches “Easy Yoga” to our residents at our Ravines location. He has learned how to use his lack of flexibility to his advantage. After realizing that the movements required in a yoga class do not come naturally to him, Beaulne decided to create a class for people who have difficulty stretching.
“Easy Yoga” is for seniors or those with injuries. It does not require participants to use the floor and they do not need to move up and down extensively. Seniors stay in their chairs.
A study in the journal Brian Plasticity, reported that yoga improves cognitive performance, attention, and memory.
“Seniors have to keep moving for the betterment of their everyday life,” said Beaulne. “The main focus is to have them be able to move their head, neck, shoulder, feet and hands.”
Beaulne tailors each class to the individual learners. He does not have them try anything that is out of their boundaries. He begins with gentle movements and assess where each resident is in their movement journey.
“These are lovely perfect exercises for those of us who can’t twist very well,” said one resident.
The goal of the program is to help them move. “I like to see them doing something,” said Beaulne. “That makes me happy.”
“I wish I could go every day,” said another resident. “I have to do physio and this is the only exercise that works for me.”
Since starting “Easy Yoga,” Beaulne has witnessed participants do stretches and poses that they could not do standing. He likes watching the beginner’s progress.
“Every single person should be stretching.”
If you or your loved one is interested in participating in a chair yoga class at Alavida Lifestyles, please contact your building’s Lifestyle Manager to learn more.