As we age, it’s especially important to maintain a healthy lifestyle—and that includes regular exercise. However, not everyone can do intense exercise routines like cycling and weight training. For some seniors, the best type of exercise to do is yoga!
Yoga can not only improve your balance and endurance, but it can also keep your mind sharp and improve sleep. However, not all yoga is suitable for seniors—so if you want to reap the benefits of yoga, try these senior-friendly yoga classes on YouTube.
One of the best exercises for seniors is chair yoga. Of course, chair yoga is done seated, which means it’s perfect for older adults who want to avoid putting too much stress on their muscles, joints and bones.
Yoga with Kassandra’s chair yoga sequence is suitable for seniors and total beginners. She recommends a comfortable chair with a firm back and no armrests. The entire class is only a few minutes long and concludes with a seated but relaxed savasana at the end of the yoga session.
If you’re looking for easy-to-follow online workout classes for seniors to stay fit and healthy all led by senior fitness experts, try the SeniorShape Fitness YouTube channel. The channel offers walking, stretching, and strength classes with weights as well as a variety of yoga-friendly lessons for seniors.
This particular class includes both seated and standing yoga moves. The first round includes sitting exercises such as ankle circles and cat-cow sitting. On the other hand, the second half is all standing yoga poses like Warrior I. Keep in mind that you may use a chair during the session for balance.
Yoga With Adriene is one of the most popular yoga channels on YouTube. It’s no surprise, then, that there are also adult-friendly practices available on the channel. Being slightly longer at 28 minutes, this workout is recommended for seniors looking for a slow but long yoga class.
To get started, simply have a blanket or towel nearby and an exercise mat. Alternatively, the Yoga with Adriene YouTube channel does have a 17-minute senior-friendly yoga class to check out called Chair Yoga For Seniors.
Kierstie Payge, yoga and meditation instructor, takes you through a 20-minute chair yoga session that’s perfect for anyone over 65. It is also an excellent exercise for anyone living with mobility problems.
The best part is that at the end of the yoga class, you’ll even get a little gentle meditation to get you completely relaxed and ready for the rest of the day. Be sure to check out the Yoga by Kierstie Payge YouTube channel for more chair yoga classes.
You need to check out Yogalates with Rashmi’s YouTube channel if you’re looking for yoga suitable for older people. There are over 20 sessions ranging from short and sweet yoga sequences to longer classes such as half hour sessions suitable for ages 60 and over. That being said, this longer class is actually a hatha yoga practice in that it combines physical postures and breathing.
Classes start with some gentle nostril breathing exercises followed by warm-ups and interlocking asanas such as equestrian pose, raised arms pose, and downward dog pose. After that, the practice ends with corpse pose or savasana for total relaxation.
Since this is a fairly old YouTube channel with only a few videos, The Mat Project doesn’t offer much yoga content. However, the videos provided on the channel are full length yoga classes suitable for seniors.
These videos create a very peaceful atmosphere, and the teacher, Shelly Nicole, adds to the atmosphere with her calming, soothing and relaxing voice. Plus, there are three different volumes available—so make sure you start with volume one and work your way up from there.
What makes the Yoga ETC YouTube channel with Tina special is Tina’s teacher. She is a yoga teacher with over a decade of experience teaching gentle yoga, and is a senior herself. Since she’s over 60, taking her classes can add motivation and confidence if you feel too old to start practicing yoga on your own.
This gentle yoga session lasts only 15 minutes, but that’s all it takes to start improving your health and fitness. Being a beginner-senior-senior-friendly class, it only covers basic yoga poses—such as child and cat-cow pose. So you don’t have to worry about doing crazy things like headstands or handstands.
Follow along with your instructor, Nanci, as she takes you through a basic but relaxing session of chair yoga — starting with some simple breathing exercises. Remember to always make sure the chair you use is comfortable and sturdy with a backrest. Plus, your feet should be able to sit flat on the floor for some movement.
Are you looking for a huge library of online yoga classes to turn your living room into a yoga studio? Check out the PsycheTruth YouTube channel, where you’ll find yoga massages, series, and programs. What’s more, you can browse classes based on your favorite yoga instructor.
Whether you’re into indoor walking, an electrifying HIIT session, or weight training to boost muscle growth, Joanna Soh’s Official YouTube channel has it all. In addition, it offers gentle yoga practice for seniors led by Joanna and holistic trainer and yoga teacher, Nika Karan.
The best part about this video is listing all the different yoga poses you’ll do along the way, such as Warrior I and Warrior II, tree pose, and butterfly pose. These movements are key if you want to improve your flexibility and balance.
You can use yoga to stay active and healthy at any age and this class from Yoga Vista proves it. Taught by Sherry Zak Morris, who is an older adult and certified yoga instructor, the class is almost an hour longer, but it includes savasana at the end and handy step-by-step guidance along the way.
Plus, the class includes two senior yoga students who also work out with Sherry, which adds a bit of extra prod and push. Keep in mind that you will need two yoga props — a yoga block and an exercise band.
You’re Never Too Old to Participate in Mind-Body Yoga Practices
Whether you are young or old, yoga is a fun and safe way to stay physically active and mentally healthy. From greater flexibility and strength to reduced stress and anxiety, yoga can have some amazing benefits, especially for aging adults.
But what makes yoga so accessible to older adults is that the poses can be adapted or modified to better suit their bodies. So if you’re interested in starting yoga as a senior, it’s not too late! Try this free online class on YouTube.
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