Yoga is an activity for everyone, whose practice is adapted to different ages and abilities and provides physical and mental benefits. It can start at any age, from babies to old age.
Yoga is an activity that connects body, mind and soul. It is an activity that provides benefits such as good blood circulation, peace of mind, toning of muscles and fighting stress.
Perhaps, when you hear about yoga, you imagine a woman in her thin, early adulthood. However, this is only a stereotype, since you can start practicing yoga at any age, even as a baby.
So you can practice yoga at any age. Of course, depending on the starting age, the postures, intensity and duration of the sessions will change.
Baby yoga
Yes, when we say that you can practice yoga at any age, we mean even newborns! Certainly, a baby needs to do induced positions very gently and always under the supervision of a trained person. This is because the body is more delicate at such an early age.
Among the benefits that stand out when practicing yoga from babies are the increase in flexibility of the spine, the strengthening of arms and legs and the positive contribution to emotional balance. The application of breathing and relaxation to combat anxiety and help concentration are other benefits.
In addition, this practice strengthens the bond between the parents and the child since, during the sessions, it is important to talk to the baby and smile at him. The sessions begin with massages on the feet, then on the legs and arms until they reach the head.
A session for babies can start with a duration of 20 minutes. It can be extended to 45 or 60 minutes, as we are creating the habit with the baby.
Yoga for children
The ideal age for children to start doing yoga on their own, although under adult supervision, is 4 years old. At that age, they are already able to understand each exercise, maintain a good level of concentration and perform the postures properly without risk of injury.
This is an age when children have a lot of energy and want to know about everything around them. This practice will help them calm down and relax thanks to the breathing exercises.
On the other hand, childhood is the period in which we grow the most, develop and create our own habits. Yoga will help strengthen muscles and maintain elasticity.
Starting the practice from an early age could mean the habit of keeping it for the rest of life and enjoying its benefits at each stage. It is important to do short sessions with the children so that they do not get bored, in addition to approaching it as a game.
Yoga for teens
Adolescence is undoubtedly a stage of change, from the body to the perception of the world and the state of mind. Practicing yoga helps you cope with these changes.
Again, breathing exercises are very helpful, for example, before an exam. In addition, there are postures specially designed to combat insecurity about your changing body, the uncertainty of not knowing where you belong to, and vacillations about your beliefs and your future. 5 to 10 minutes are considered necessary in each position to achieve good results.
Yoga in adulthood
Daily life confronts us with stress. University, work, interpersonal relationships, domestic responsibilities or health contingencies, among many other situations, do not leave us almost time for ourselves. And it’s just when we need it most.
Yoga relieves stress and makes us healthier people. It is true that flexibility is more difficult as adults and we are generally more reluctant to change. However, everything is possible with perseverance. Also, yoga is specially designed to deal with chaotic situations of adulthood.
One hour of session will be enough to connect with ourselves. At the same time, it will help us tone our bodies, and take more control of our minds and bodies.
There are situations such as pregnancy, menstruation or some health problems that we must take into account when we want to do yoga. It is important to notify our instructor if we have any special conditions. In this way, we will avoid counterproductive positions and replace them with those that are ideal for us.
It is important to demand more and more from our body to perfect the technique and improve our physical condition. However, we must be aware of our limitations to avoid injury.
Yoga for older adults
It’s never too late to start! We already said that you can practice yoga at any age. As time passes, our body begins to undergo changes that normally impair our quality of life, for example:
- Rigidity
- Hypertension
- Increased body fat
- Osteoporosis
- Back pains
- Difficulty breathing
- Blood circulation problems
- Vision problems
Yoga contributes to improving these conditions. With conscious yoga breathing, for example, we are able to slow our heart rate, improve focus, and increase concentration.
It is important to note that our bodies are not the same when we tread our golden years. That is why we must be careful when performing the postures. Your instructor should be aware of your skills and your ailments. It is recommended to do each position more slowly and carefully, and keep them for a short time.
Starting to practice yoga at any age is possible. The benefits that we obtain at each stage of our life will lead us to live healthier.