Keeping fit as we age has become increasingly important as the average lifespan of today’s population continues to climb. According to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian woman is expected to live until 84 years old, while men have an average life expectancy of 81, although that gap has been narrowing over the last decade.
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The goal is to find ourselves more vibrant and capable through healthy aging. More and more research points out the benefits of exercise on the aging brain, such as seniors dealing with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, as well as those living with the challenges of Parkinson’s disease or cancer. |
Health Canada recommends adults, including those 65 and over, participate in at least two and a half hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week in sessions as short as 10 minutes each.
“I became increasingly interested in aging and what we can do to improve our quality of life as we get older,” says gentle yoga instructor Deborah Drisdell. “Functional exercises, those that keep us able to go about our usual daily life, are so important as we get older.” A yoga instructor at the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre in Kirkland, Que., Drisdell has put her love of yoga into practice.
Approaching 60 herself, Drisdell came to yoga in order to find some balance in a crazy, busy life while getting some gentle exercise. “What I discovered as I practised was that the holistic approach of yoga benefited my body, but most importantly, my mind and spirit,” says Drisdell. ”Yoga practice somehow truly affects the rest of your life.”
Breathing exercises energize the body or, alternatively, calm it during moments of stress, while yoga poses, or asanas, aid participants in accepting new age-related boundaries. ”Yoga meets you where you are, as any poses can be modified using blocks, a chair or wall, making it a perfect practice for someone looking to begin a fitness journey, recovering from surgery or dealing with long-term ailments,” points out Drisdell.
”There is no shortage of research that states that exercise, both cardiovascular and weight-bearing, has an impact,” stresses Drisdell. “The general thesis is that a healthy body sustains a healthy brain.”
