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Yoga For 50 And Over

People unfamiliar with yoga may have the impression that the activity presents impossibly hard poses, or easy, passive stretches on the floor. In fact, yoga runs the whole gamut— from a gentle, restorative practice to fast-moving, powerful exercise.

Doctors frequently suggest to patients that they start a yoga practice for the health benefits, including lowered stress levels, but be careful to choose a practice that fits your individual needs. If you are new to yoga or looking for a slower practice with deep stretching, look for classes with titles like gentle, restorative or yin, beginner or basic, or chair yoga for those who can’t come to the ground.

Julie Shapiro, a yoga instructor at Yogaja Yoga in Cricket West, teaching yoga in the Toledo area for almost 30 years, explains, “Yoga is especially beneficial for those over 50 as it is critical to continually work to maintain – and improve – balance, flexibility and strength, which lends itself to preventing falls and injuries.[Yoga] can also improve anxiety and depression.”

“Marked improvements can be realized quickly in as short as six weeks, even in people brand new to yoga,” Julie continues. “It’s important to go at your own pace, learning to respect signals your body sends, and maybe not starting with a vinyasa (a flowing, more powerful class) but with a slower, gentler class”.

Julie explains a rather unexpected benefit of yoga: “One wonderful aspect of going to a regular class, which can be a pleasant surprise, is the opportunity to plug into a new and supportive community. Good friends are made at a time in life when it’s not always easy to connect with new people. And remember, humor is always welcomed and appreciated [in yoga]!”

Julie teaches Classic Hatha, a slower-paced yoga class
that focuses on traditional yoga poses, at Yogaja Yoga
on Thursdays at 5:45PM and Fridays at 9AM

Find a yoga class

Yogaja Yoga
3145 W. Central Ave. in
Cricket West, Toledo and 701 Madison Ave., Toledo.
567.343.5569
contact@yogajayoga.com | YogajaYoga.com

Harmony in Life
5747 Main St., Sylvania
419.517.0047 | Harmonyinlifecenter.com

Essence Mind Body Studio
725 Ford Street, Suite B , Maumee
419.873.6463 | Essencembs.com

ProMedica Wildwood Athletic Club
2865 N. Reynolds Rd., Toledo
419.539-0235 | Promedica.org/wildwood-athletic-club

Serenity Health & Wellness
1685 Lance Pointe Rd., Maumee
419.891.2181 | Serenityspamaumee.com

3D Wellness
4035 W. Central Ave., Toledo
419.367.1417 | 3dwtoledo.com

California Yoga
6625 Maplewood Ave., Sylvania
info@californiayogastudio.com
Californiayogastudio.com

Toledo Yoga
4324 Central Ave., Toledo
419.531.0006 | Toledoyoga.com

Tonic Maumee
2221 River Rd., Maumee
419.794.4044 | TonicMaumee.com

Sylvania Senior Center
7140 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania
419.885.3913 | SCSonline.org/seniorcenter

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