What is Gentle Years Yoga?

The Gentle Years Yoga© programme was developed by the British Wheel of Yoga for older adults with age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and Parkinson’s disease. Gentle Years Yoga is chair-based and uses yoga practices that have been adapted to make them accessible, safe and tailored to the specific needs of older adults. The Gentle Years Yoga© programme is research based and, following a promising pilot study, is currently undergoing a controlled trial to assess its benefits.

What are the benefits of Yoga adapted for older adults?

The benefits of yoga encompass not only physical effects but also psychological and social.

Among the physical benefits of regular yoga practice, the most relevant to older adults are increased strength – resulting from improved bone and muscle health -, flexibility and better balance. As a result, yoga can increase mobility, and therefore the ability to get out and about, reduce inactivity and, significantly, reduce the risk of falls, which are all important factors to lead a healthy and active life as we get older. Yoga also includes breathing exercises (called pranayama) that can improve lung health and breathing capacity as well has having a centering and calming effect. In addition, yoga can help to prevent or control cardiovascular disease and has been shown to reduce blood pressure.

But yoga is not only good for physical health, it can also contribute to our mental health. Regular yoga practice can improve mood and reduce the symptoms of common disorders such as stress, anxiety and depression. Yoga can help with poor sleep, which is a common complaint in older adults. An important aspect of yoga is that it helps to focus the mind and can result in improved ability to concentrate.

Older adults can find themselves socially isolated and loneliness can be a real concern for them. Attending regular classes could help them feel part of a group and supported by others. Gentle Years Yoga classes include an after-class social time, which provides further opportunities for social engagement in a friendly environment.