New research shows positive benefit for yoga in the ageing population

Yoga has been practised for centuries as a way to maximise our function and increase our health but western research is finally beginning to catch up with ancient art.

A recent met-analysis published in the  International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Showed great benefits across 22 randomised controlled studies looking into the possible health benefits of yoga. This paper is significant as it was the first review that looked at yoga as a practise in health populations rather than just for significant conditions.

What was really interesting is that yoga was shown to be of significant benefit not just to compared to doing nothing ( well dah ! ) but also to other exercise forms and meditative exercises such as gentle walking or aerobics etc.

Benefits were found not just for things like balance but also mild depression and increasing lower limb strength and guarding against falls and also things like sleep quality (often a problem in older individuals) and other mental health variables.

So you are considering doing yoga this summer in Niseko into your senior years now would be a great time to consider it. Marika from Niseko Ashtanga yoga would be a place for getting started in your yoga game in Niseko. Powder yoga with Kanami also runs at the Aya hotel over the winter season.

You can see her timetable on her facebook page below

https://www.facebook.com/marikaashtangayoga/

https://www.facebook.com/powderyoganiseko/

 

You can see the full study published below

https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-019-0789-2