Gaining flexibility through your 40’s and 50’s isn’t too much of a stretch – in fact, yoga is a the best way to go about doing so!

 

Yoga for Flexibility and Bone Health

As much as we’d love to deny it, we’re all getting older. And with age comes wisdom… and undeniable changes in our physiques. The older we get, the more likely we are to experience stiffness, decreased mobility, and overall lack of energy. 

Years of submitting our bodies to hard work has measurable effects. Over 200 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, which is a loss of bone density causing an increased risk of fractures. In addition to habitually slouching over our desks at work or just holding stress in places like our hips and our shoulders, some of us are predisposed to loss of muscle tone anyway. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t a magical way to regain your bone strength or go back to having the strong muscles you had at 15 years old, but engaging in weight-bearing exercises can help you commit to aging gracefully.

In fact, the NIH even suggests that yoga can help people with conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis safely help you fight against gravity and stand tall and strong. By pitting one group of muscles against another, yoga exposes bones to greater forces and, therefore, might enhance your bone mineral density–and your overall strength while slowly building flexibility.

 

Yoga Poses for Flexibility Through Your 40’s and 50’s

  1. Crescent Low Lunge Twist
    1. With almost all the muscles engaged, this kneeling twist pose helps to build better range of motion in the involved joints, especially the hips and shoulders. Being a gentle hip opener, it can prepare the hips and pelvis for deeper twists
  2. Revolved Pyramid / Triangle 
    1. Improves balance.  Strengthens the legs, feet, ankles and abdominal muscles. Facilitates movement in the abdominal organs, helping digestion. Increases flexibility in the hamstrings, shoulders and upper back.
  3. Revolved Half Moon
    1. This pose strengthens and stretches the whole body. It builds strength in the ankles, thighs, abdomen, buttocks, and lower back. This pose builds stability in the core muscles, including the abdominal muscles, pelvis, and lower back. 
  4. Seated Twist
    1. Great beginner’s pose. Massages abdominal organs, including the liver and kidneys. Stretches the shoulders. Stimulates the brain. Relieves mild backache and hip pain. Strengthens and stretches the spine

So, as you can see, simple and dynamic yoga poses though you can incorporate into your routine are an easy way to gain flexibility through your 40’s and 50’s and well beyond!

 

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