Is yoga cardio, or does it fall under bodybuilding? Yoga, as a flexibility exercise, can do many things, but it is considered a critical part of your cardio workout regimen. Yoga is a vital heart-healthy exercise to keep your body and heart strong.
How often do you stretch in the morning? According to surveys from NPR, about 1 in every 6 adults practices yoga. But how do these low-impact movement exercises fit into your wellness routine?
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How do you find the best exercises for cardiovascular wellness that aging seniors need? If you're curious about senior yoga benefits and heart-healthy exercise, we're here to help. Read on for a quick overview of yoga as cardio.
What makes yoga such a popular choice? Is yoga cardio, or just a fad? You'll find yoga an extremely common option across all age groups, but it's particularly notable in seniors.
One of the main reasons for this is how yoga works as a low-impact movement exercise. That makes it ideal for seniors who are dealing with mobility issues, or if they're struggling to find exercises they can do while they build their fitness.
Another great perk is how varied yoga is. Yoga has exercises that go from high-physicality, intense positions to gentle breathing exercises, and everything in between. That makes it the perfect exercise to encourage balance and mobility for seniors.
The health benefits of yoga can't be understated, and directly lead to how popular it is as an exercise category. According to Healthline, some of the benefits you'll find are:
As a whole, the health benefits of yoga are one of the main things that make it so popular. That's why we strongly recommend you find a way to work yoga into your daily routine in your senior living community.
While it's important to acknowledge the health benefits, it's also important to mention the risks of intense exercise. Part of yoga's appeal is its variety, but on the more intense end of those exercises, it can pose a threat to safety for seniors.
The main way is through strain or fall risks. If you exercise beyond your body's capability, you can easily pull or strain a muscle. Doing so can impact your mobility considerably.
Additionally, exercising alone can create some fall risks or mobility issues. We strongly recommend looking through the fitness amenities of your community. That way, you can find an instructor, yoga classes, and other ways to minimize the risks.
Where can you start with your exercises? Here are some of the most notable beginner poses for seniors looking for low-impact movement exercises.
Your first step is to warm up. Warming up for your exercises doesn't just give you a moment to get ready. According to Heart.org, warming up will widen your blood vessels, ensuring your body gets a good supply of oxygen.
Warm-up exercises are often breathing exercises. Sit with good, straight posture and breathe in slowly through your nose, then out through your mouth.
Some general turning will also help. Rotate your spine lightly to the left, then right. Rolling your shoulders will also help.
One of the most important things to look into is supported and seating poses. These poses are ideal for seniors who are struggling with mobility or limitations. As the name suggests, these are poses supported by something else.
One common pose is the Mountain Pose near a wall or a chair. Ground your feet, steady your breathing, and focus on your posture.
Gentle Chair Poses are also ideal, but don't let the name fool you: the chair pose doesn't mean using a chair, it means making yourself one! Such a pose is often difficult for people who are still learning, so feel free to skip this one. Instead, use a chair to support your upper half while performing the pose with your bottom.
Everyone's different, and yoga is a heavily personalized exercise routine. Your routine should be designed with a fitness expert and medical professional who know your body's limitations.
The easiest poses are seated, chair-supported exercises. Many exercises are also completable with a floor cushion, but you may find it difficult to get up from the floor.
Using exercises that have a wall for support is also a great idea. That way, your low-impact movement will also have something to lean on.
There are some risks to doing yoga alone, especially if you have mobility issues. If you fall and no one is around to help you, you may seriously injure yourself.
We recommend instead looking for yoga classes you can do with your community. Not only will you get all of the health benefits of exercising, but you'll also get the benefits of socializing!
With all that said, is yoga cardio for your exercise routine? While it may not be cardio to the same degree as running on a treadmill, you'll find this heart-healthy exercise to be crucial to the cardiovascular wellness that aging seniors need. Speak to your doctor and fitness instructor to see what exercise routine will give you the most senior yoga benefits.
Here at TerraBella Shelby, we understand that there's more to your mental health than an exercise regimen. The Discovery Senior Living family of management companies, which includes TerraBella Shelby, ranked as the #1 choice in satisfaction among our assisted living and memory care communities according to a 2025 J.D. Power study. Contact us to schedule a tour and see how we can make your golden years shine.