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 As we age, unless we develop a serious, life-threatening illness, we should be able to remain free of aches and pains and retain our ability to walk, bend, and stretch without discomfort. Unfortunately, this is not the case for most of us. Because we perform the same movements over and over again, some of our muscles are over-developed, and some are under-developed. Some muscles are long and some are short and tight. Our joints often lose their range of motion and we become unable to move freely.
Yoga, if practiced regularly, can help to balance our bodies and avoid pain and discomfort. Not only do we exercise all of our muscles and joints, but we learn to breathe deeply and regularly. This increases oxygenation to our tissues. A recent study conducted on women in nursing homes indicates that elderly women who regularly participate in yoga classes have fewer complaints of aches and pains than women who are sedentary. Yoga can reduce the medication requirements of patients with asthma. It has been shown to be more effective than splinting in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients with arthritis of the hands improved significantly more than the control group in their experience of pain during activity, tenderness, and finger range of motion. In some patients, yoga is more effective than medication in reducing anxiety. Because yoga practice includes breathing exercises and meditation, yoga practitioners tend to be calmer and less reactive to outside circumstances. |