We provide health camps specially designed to address the needs, interests and concerns of seniors and late beginners on the path of Yoga. Our team of experienced yoga teachers and doctors sensitively guide, inspire and encourage elders and equip them with useful Yogic tools and practices while educating them on health and old age management.

Yoga For Seniors: Getting Started

Yoga can bring immense benefits for the mind and body, and one is never too old to reap those rewards. Our physical health and wellness tend to decline with age. Yoga offers the perfect solution for the elderly who are looking to improve their overall well-being with safe and effective practices. The breathing, meditation and stretching exercises in yoga offer a host of benefits to older adults, such as an improved sense of balance, flexibility, sleep, etc. Therefore, yoga for senior citizens is becoming increasingly popular among families.

Govardhan Ecovillage offers several best practices of yoga for the elderly including the popular discipline of chair yoga. Also called desktop yoga poses, the asanas of chair yoga can be conveniently done while sitting on a chair. Some of them include seated forward bend, neck roll, eagle arms, cow stretch, seated spinal twist, and temple rub. Our expert yoga teachers and instructors will explain the types of yoga, basic poses and things to do before starting any yoga routine as well as share tips to find the appropriate classes.

Benefits of Yoga for the Elderly

Yoga nurtures the mind-body connection and improves mental and spiritual health. Although it has a spiritual aspect, yoga is not a religious practice. People from different faiths and belief systems participate in yoga to reap its benefits. Moreover, yoga doesn’t put stress on the joints like other physical activities, such as weightlifting or jogging, and can be started at any age. The poses or asanas in yoga can be modified to suit the individual requirements making it safe for people with all fitness and ability levels.

Some of the benefits of yoga for senior citizens are as follows.

Improves balance and makes them steady on their feet: The yoga poses for seniors help to strengthen their core and abdominal muscles. As a result, they gain better stability and control of their body reducing their risk of falls.
Enhanced breathing capacity and respiratory health: Elderly people who practice breathing control or pranayama in yoga have been seen to have a significant improvement in their lung capacity and pulmonary health.
Increases flexibility: Yoga postures and movements involves stretching exercises which is beneficial for seniors. Holding and releasing a pose in rhythm with their breathing relaxes their muscles and connective tissues thereby increasing their flexibility and range of motion.
Stronger bones: As we age, the risk of brittle bones and osteoporosis increases. A consistent routine for yoga for seniors involving weight-bearing postures can go a long way in improving bone strength and density.
Reduces anxiety and stress: Yoga practices encompass meditation and mindful breathing, which help a person fix their mind on the present and find a sense of peace. This also lowers their cortisol levels and reduces anxiety and stress.
Better sleep: Insomnia and disturbed sleep are common complaints among people over the age of 60. Regular participation in yoga classes for senior citizens can help to promote restful sleep and improve the duration and quality of sleep.

HIGHLIGHTS

Asana and pranayama sessions
Motivational talks
Ayurveda centre tour
Health management seminars
Yoga nidra- relaxation therapy
Yoga therapy- miracle cow
Nature walk- Vrindavan Forest
Kirtan Yoga and mantra meditation

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Spending almost a month of my life at Govardhan School of Yoga in Govardhan Ecovillage learning yoga was one of the best phases of my life. I got to know about them through their website and their association with Iskcon was one of the key factors of me enrolling into the Yoga Teacher’s Training Certification course. Though a naïve to Yoga, I didn’t feel like such after starting with the course here. Such was my comfort level with the yoga teachers there. All the sessions in the course were quite good and I gelled very well with all the other participants making the time spent well worth. Everything right from the food, facilities and ambience were very well organized and gave an impression of a professional set up amidst the nature’s tranquility. A must place to visit if you love yoga and intend to learn and teach it in your lifetime.

- Ami Majithia

The first acquaintance that I had with Govardhan School of Yoga was through its website that led me to opt for the 28 days YTTC program at Govardhan Ecovillage. The experience that I had in the YTTC program was simply awesome. What I liked the most was the way in which the entire course was structured covering all aspects of yoga in the classical way, with strong foundations and giving you everything you need: food, knowledge, spirituality, concepts, delightful experiences and more. The environment in Govardhan School of Yoga, it’s surroundings, all yoga teachers and the mood of the people in general will give you a truthful version of the lifestyle there amidst the sanctity of yoga. All this will make you feel confident to travel back home and take up yoga teaching. The time you spent at the yoga school here will help you leave with enthusiasm and to keep on learning even more about this practice. Set aside the plan of teaching, even the techniques and practices you learn will help you improve in your daily life. I have been fortunate enough to be blessed by the purity of this place and would definitely look forward to visit here again.

- Adriana Plaza

My experience of Yoga Teacher’s Training Certification course at Govardhan School of Yoga was nothing short of amazing. A great learning experience with wonderful and easily approachable yoga teachers, one of the best places – Govardhan Ecovillage; nestled amidst nature’s serenity; to learn yoga, and the best facilities that led into an amazing experience of 28 days of learning YTTC. Govardhan School of Yoga was referred by one of my friends who had been here before. Today, I feel extremely happy that I did listen to my friend and got enrolled myself in to this life changing course. Everything about the course was great, especially the Asana and the Pranayama sessions, so were the technical classes. The yoga teachers had a very good knowledge about everything in general and were the perfect fit in the set up. Govardhan Ecovillage is now definitely on my travel list for the coming year.

- Surabhi Rathod

If I have to say what were some of the best days in my life, it would be the 28 days that I spent at Govardhan Ecovillage recently learning Yoga Teacher’s Training Certification course at Govardhan School of Yoga. The place itself is wonderful, and I really enjoyed the company of many other special souls. Our teachers were so patient, easily approachable, dedicated, humorous and knowledgeable. Our teachers were so patient, easily approachable, dedicated, humorous and knowledgeable. I chose to do the course just to connect with myself and learn more yoga. Though, I dreaded the fact that I would have to practice teaching as well, which I could not see myself doing at all. But the way the teachers led us through the process was so powerful that I was able to find that spark of confidence within myself that I was looking for. It was truly life changing, and I am grateful for every part of it. I would definitely love to visit Govardhan Ecovillage again to experience this pure ecstasy.

- Narayani Pokhrel

Yoga for Seniors: Your Questions Answered

Can people above the age of 60 do yoga asanas?

Yes, seniors can do yoga asanas. According to ancient sages, yoga means to unite. It is the study of life as well as your inner faculties. The inner faculties involve your body, mind, ego, memory, intellect, and even your breath. That is why people of all ages and walks of life can practice yoga and enjoy the various benefits it offers.

Is there any easy yoga asana that senior beginners can try?

Yes, there is a yoga asana for senior beginners called Sukshma yoga. It can be practised independently and as a part of the yoga plan. This yoga involves simple exercises for the eyes, hands, necks, and jaws. It takes only a few minutes and can be practised by people of any age group.

How should seniors perform yoga asanas?

As per the sages, yoga can be also defined as Sthira Sukham Asana. It means an asana constitutes comfort and stability. So, anyone performing yoga, be it a younger or elderly person, needs to be aware of their posture. As long as the posture is stable and comfortable, there will be no harm.

What is the difference between general yoga and yoga for seniors?

The types of yoga asanas suggested to the younger and elders can be the same. However, the only difference can be the time, effort, flexibility involved in a posture. People with lower endurance levels are advised not to perform asanas involving abdominal and cardiovascular movements.

Can seniors benefit from chair yoga?

Yes, chair yoga can offer numerous health benefits to seniors. This yoga is performed by staying seated, thereby eliminating your safety concerns. It means that even seniors who are not flexible can practice it. It is a great yoga that can help older adults to improve blood circulation, reduce stress, and stretch and relax painful muscles.

Are there any safety measures for seniors to follow while practising yoga?

Seniors can follow a few safety measures like

Taking adequate rest after each pose
Switching warm-ups with joint movements and brisk walking
Practicing yoga under the supervision of a trained yoga instructor
Letting the yoga instructor know in case of any ailments
Focusing on repeating poses instead of holding a posture for long
Adjusting the body to a daily yoga routine before trying out new asanas

The Stay

Accommodation at Govardhan Ecovillage is equipped to provide you with the mesmerising experience of living in nature without compromising the basic comforts of modern life. The stay here is characterised by healthy living amidst a serene natural environment to heighten your journey to explore inner peace. Eco-living being the cornerstone of all our programs, your time here will also educate you on how to exist in perfect harmony with nature even in your city life.

Gokul Cottages

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