How Yoga Can Improve Life in a Nursing Home

Yoga has become a very popular activity, and for good reason. It is a simple, accessible activity that almost anyone can engage with to improve their physical, mental, and emotional health. Yoga also gives people an opportunity to slow down and focus on themselves, which is often lacking in today’s fast-paced world.

The beauty of yoga is that anyone can do it. Whether you are a young child or a senior in a nursing home, this activity can promote wellness at all ages. As our bodies age, we tend to discover a greater need for healthy practices. The natural process of aging can compromise our musculoskeletal structure, immune system, and other body components. Yoga provides a simple solution that can stave off or reduce the impact of these effects. 

At some point, many adults may decide to move into a nursing home to support their healthcare needs. Just because you are older and rely on others for medical assistance does not mean your yoga journey is over. In fact, it may become an even more important aspect of your life. Let’s discuss how yoga can significantly improve life in a nursing home. 

Maintaining Flexibility

One of the biggest concerns facing older adults is joint problems. Joints are pivot points on the body that affect how you can move your arms, legs, neck, hands, feet, and other body parts. Losing flexibility can make it harder to move around, often resulting in sore or achy joints. Fortunately, yoga can have a massive impact on an individual’s flexibility. The more you stretch and focus on yoga poses that strengthen your joints without straining yourself, the more likely your joints are to stay functional in the coming years. 

Promoting Mental Clarity

Cognitive decline is another major concern among nursing home residents. The older we get, the more likely our minds are to experience the effects of aging. Memory loss, declining motor functions, and other cognitive conditions are more likely to occur if you ignore your mental health. Practicing yoga can promote mental clarity through focused breathing and specific exercises. Since yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, you can experience relaxation and emotional stability, which supports mental health. 

Pursuing Social Engagement

Although yoga can be an individual activity enjoyed in the privacy of your room, many nursing homes offer yoga classes to their residents. These sessions are a chance to participate in a group activity with like-minded individuals. Building social connections is a key ingredient to staying fit as a senior citizen. By participating in group yoga classes, you can promote physical and mental health while engaging with others and building relational connections. 

Maintaining Mobility

Many nursing home patients struggle with mobility. Whether you are capable of walking around the facility or need a wheelchair, mobility can have a major impact on your nursing home experience. Consistent yoga can maintain mobility by strengthening your legs, hips, core muscles, and arms. Unfortunately, negligent staff are often at fault for failing to assist residents who require mobility assistance. Serious falls can result in a devastating injury, forcing the patient to call a nursing home neglect attorney to seek compensation for legal damages. However, engaging in yoga to maintain mobility can make you less reliant on inattentive nurses or aides to move around the facility. 

Seeking Pain Management

Aches and pains tend to become lifelong partners as you get older. Many seniors are resigned to the fact that the pain they live with is unavoidable. However, it never hurts to try something new to alleviate your pain. Nursing homes provide many pain management services that involve therapy or medication, but yoga could work wonders for your discomfort, too. For example, some yoga poses can help manage back pain, which is a common complaint among older adults. Downward dog, bridge pose, and cat-cow are all ideal exercises to reduce back pain. 

Engaging With Visitors

Nursing home residents have the right to receive visitors, such as family members or friends. Finding an activity to enjoy with your loved ones can be challenging in a nursing home. Exercise can be a great shared activity that gets everyone moving while promoting stronger relationships. You could practice yoga with a visiting relative in the privacy of your room, or you could have them join you for a yoga class offered by the facility. In either scenario, the ability to engage in an activity together can make the visit more enjoyable for you and your loved one. 

Use Yoga to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle in a Nursing Home

Although nursing homes may be typically associated with severe health conditions, many residents are more than capable of implementing yoga into their daily routines. This type of exercise can be vital for flexibility, mental clarity, socialization, and pain management techniques. Try integrating yoga into your nursing home lifestyle and see how these benefits can make your life in the facility more fulfilling.