Chair yoga helps the elderly improve their health and spirit
Alzheimer's disease often causes memory loss, difficulty in movement, balance and concentration. This makes the journey to care for relatives emotionally challenging. In that context, chair yoga appears as a simple but effective solution, helping to improve physical health and connect emotions between patients and caregivers.
Chair yoga, a safe solution for the elderly
Cessory yoga makes it easier for people to practice by bringing the ground closer, reducing the risk of falls and helping Alzheimer's patients move safely, says Dr. Yogrishi Vishvketu, a yoga instructor at Health Shots. This exercise uses a sturdy chair, combined with gentle movements and simple breathing techniques, based on traditional yoga exercises. According to Yoga Magazine, chair yoga not only improves movement but also brings inner peace.
The main benefits include: safe movement, improved blood circulation, increased concentration through mindfulness, and emotional connection between caregivers and patients (News in Health, American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine). Some popular exercises include: joint movement flow to help maintain flexibility, cat-shaped sitting pose (jariasana) to support breathing and posture awareness, rotation when sitting to increase spinal movement, curved sitting pose (ardha chandrasana) to improve lung capacity, and Bhramari Pranayama, vulture breathing, helps calm the nervous system, balance hormones and improve sleep.
Healthy lifestyle, the key to preventing Alzheimer's
Chair yoga is part of a healthy lifestyle, recommended in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Prevention. This lifestyle includes regular physical activity, an anti-inflammatory diet, mindfulness practice, and maintaining social relationships. Light-tone, focused yoga and safe movement help Alzheimers patients maintain a clear mind and emotional health, Dr. Vishvketu emphasized.
Some effective practice tips: practice 5 - 15 minutes a day, maintain the habit at the same time, focus on effort instead of perfection, and practice together to increase emotional connection. Chair yoga not only improves physical fitness but also raises alertness, contributing to improving the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients and their families.
