Deep Breathing Techniques And Yoga Stretching Routines For Elderly
For many of the elderly yoga has become not only a way to keep up with friends and expand their social horizons, but also a way to keep in shape and develop themselves through spiritual exercise. The success of the matter lies in the fact that yoga, as performed by the true practitioners of the art, is primarily a spiritual exercise rather than a physical one, the latter simply a physical manifestation of the former.
It is therefore encouraged that those who wish to practice yoga should first and foremost seek to understand the spiritual practices behind which revolves around the concept of purity within the ‘Self’. Of course, the latter is a statement hailed by the yogi of old as truth, one that has lost its own structural support, perhaps due to the effects of modern media. The purpose of this article is, however, to acquaint the elderly with a couple of yoga breathing techniques and stretching routines, which, out of respect to the yogi of old, we’ll supply with the added request to you, the reader, to keep up with the spiritual exercise and in so doing discover the higher self.
Yoga Breathing
1. Whether during spiritual exercise or during yoga stretching, breathing is of the utmost importance. The focus is of course on breathing correctly which is vastly different than any amount of normal breathing. Here’s how the breathing process works:
2. Take a minute to relax by focusing on your own normal breathing and clearing your mind.
3. Sit cross-legged or lie supine with the arms and legs straightened forward.
4. Inhale gently but deeply through the nose and push the air down into the abdomen. If sitting, put the arms on the knees, bend them slightly and push out the chest.
5. Hold the breath for a moment and then pull the shoulders back whilst gently letting it go.
6. Squeeze all the air out of the lungs by contracting the diaphragm.
7. Repeat a couple of times.
As mentioned, the above stated breathing technique will be beneficial, nor only during spiritual exercise, but also during normal yoga exercise, when ridding the self of stress or when trying to relax.
Yoga Stretching
Still keeping spiritual exercise in mind? If so, then good. If not, well, then you’d better get started as yoga stretching and spiritual exercise go hand-in-hand.
1. We’ll start off by doing the above breathing exercise. Once that has been done, the following two yoga stretches can be performed:
2. Stand straight up, feet at shoulder width and arms at the sides. Start inhaling, raising your arms to the side as the air fills your lungs until your two index fingers touch. Exhale, gradually lowering your arms to your sides. This should be done a number of times.
This step is similar to that of the first, with the difference that we’ll be raising our arms forwards and up instead of to the sides until they point straight upwards. When exhaling, bring the arms down and bend forward, going as low as you can go and then grabbing your legs. Hold the pose for a bit as you inhale and count to ten. Exhale and straighten the body gradually. Repeat.
Unfortunately we won’t be able to supply you with any spiritual exercise as these are unique to each and every individual. We can however inform you that yoga spiritual exercises are aimed at self- knowledge, also known as introspection, to acquaint the individual with his or her true self. More importantly, however, is the spiritual exercise of self acceptance in all its many forms.