Middle aged men find often find themselves in a rut when it comes to exercising and taking care of their minds and bodies. Men who are looking for a great workout often find that yoga helps to cure their other physical and mental ailments that plague them during their middle age. Indigestion, hair loss, back and joint pain, obesity, depression, anxiety, and impotence are all maladies of middle age that can be deterred by a regular yoga practice. Yoga is definitely not magic, but it has many tangible benefits that can make the transition into middle age a whole lot smoother!
Here are some ways that a yoga practice can improve some middle age maladies:
Hair loss – it’s common for men to start losing their hair in middle age. Losing hair can often be attributed to genetics, but hair can also be lost during times of stress, illness, or changes in diet and medication. How can yoga help hair loss? Inversions like headstand, shoulder stand, and plow pose increase circulation to the scalp and hair line, so that more blood can flow to the head and nourish the area. Yogic breathing and pranayama help to decrease anxiety and tension so that stress-related hair loss could decrease.
Weight loss – your metabolism becomes considerably slower by the time middle age hits. When combined with a healthy diet, yoga helps to ward off those extra pounds that tend to accumulate over the years. Any type of exercise that gets you moving can help you lose some weight, but some types of yoga are particularly effective for dropping the pounds. Ashtanga and Bikram (“hot”) yoga, are known for helping you to tone up while slimming down.
Aching joints and bad backs – many frequent yoga practitioners can attest that a regular practice is a great way to keep your muscles strong and increase flexibility. A good yoga instructor should be able to teach you how to modify poses in order to strengthen problem areas in your body. If you have tight muscle tissue, yoga is a great way to become more limber.
Depression and anxiety – studies have proven that improved blood flow and circulation that comes with regular exercise can help to stabilize your mood. The April 2009 Harvard Mental Health Letter reveals that yoga helps to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Remember that anytime is a great time to start practicing yoga! Whether you’re in your twenties, middle-age, or a senior citizen, a regular practice can help you to feel younger, healthier, and stronger.
