“Yoga is a fantastic practice that everyone and anyone can do, no matter your age or your physical abilities,” says Trish McKay, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull, a memory care assisted living community in Trumbull, CT. “We incorporate yoga and other gentle exercises into our residents’ activity programs because it helps them stay healthy, calms their minds and allows them to feel calmer and more centered.”
The Benefits of Yoga
Alongside the mental aspect of yoga, the practice is also good physical exercise (which improves physical health and brain function). Overall, yoga has many benefits that everyone can enjoy:
- It improves strength, balance and core stability
- It helps improve flexibility and mobility
- It helps develop lung capacity and increase oxygen intake
- It reduces stress and promotes feelings of well-being
- It helps lower blood pressure
A 2014 study found that chair yoga has additional benefits for individuals with moderate to severe dementia. The authors of the study noticed that the participants had a better sense of balance, a higher general sense of well-being and an increased ability to focus on the task at hand.
Our brains are very adaptable, and even in those living with dementia, exercises can challenge the brain and help improve cognitive function. Yoga engages a variety of parts of the brain, making it a whole-body exercise that’s both gentle and effective. Perhaps another reason why yoga is so effective for those with dementia is that it doesn’t require a participant to retain memories – it’s all about focusing on the “now” and being mindful.
Yoga is also excellent for individuals of varying abilities because of the adaptability of the practice. It’s a very personal practice, and participants are encouraged to adapt poses in order to make them comfortable. The idea of “pushing yourself” isn’t something that you’ll find in most yoga classes. Rather, it’s about finding a practice that makes you feel good – something we can all get behind!
Finally, yoga is a very effective stress reducer. People living with dementia are prone to stress, anxiety and depression, which are all issues that can affect quality of life. They are also behaviors that can increase the severity of dementia symptoms like wandering, aggression and sundowning. Yoga promotes calmness and stress reduction, which helps improve relaxation, concentration and blood circulation. The practice also helps people with dementia feel less lonely and isolated, as they practice with a group or a care partner.
Other Gentle Exercises for Those with Dementia
Yoga is not the only gentle, full-body and adaptable exercise that benefits people with dementia. There are a wide variety of other exercises that people with cognitive decline can benefit from and enjoy. Here is just a sampling of some of the other activities and exercises that can promote well-being for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Gardening. Gardening is an activity that many memory care communities use to help engage residents. Like yoga, it’s a gentle practice that can be adapted to an individual’s activity and ability levels. Gardening stimulates many aspects of the brain and engages the senses while also helping to strengthen muscles. Plus, it’s a fun and enjoyable activity.
Indoor fitness games. The rise of the Wii has been fantastic for memory care communities in terms of helping provide residents with fun exercises that can be quite lively. Participants can play together or by themselves and engage their physical abilities without having to strain themselves. Besides video games, there are also plenty of indoor games that can promote physical activity like indoor bowling, croquet or others.
Dancing. Everyone loves dancing, and everybody can dance, whether they’re seated, standing or even lying down. Dancing is a very social activity, too. A dance can be as structured or as impromptu as you like – just turn on some music and start moving. Music therapy is very effective for those with dementia, as the part of the brain that “stores” music remains unaffected by the disease. Playing favorite music from the past often gets dementia residents clapping, dancing and even singing along.
Swimming. Supervised swimming is a soothing, calming activity for people with dementia. Because the water helps support them, they’re able to perform a variety of exercises without the risk of falling. Often, they’re able to perform activities better than they can on land. Water provides a natural resistance, which helps build strength without having to use weights or other external tools. Swimming and water aerobics have been shown to help build muscle tone and improve balance in older individuals.
Tai chi and qigong. These two forms of Chinese martial arts are gentle practices that combine meditation and movement, much like yoga. The exercises are a structured flow that focus on promoting stability and balance.
Walking. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for anyone. It doesn’t require any gym membership fees, fancy equipment or specialized locations. It can be done anywhere, for any length of time, for anyone of any ability. It’s an exercise that boosts your immune system, promotes a healthy metabolism, builds strength and balance and helps improve moods. Taking a walk outside pairs exercise with the beauty of being in nature, which does wonders for everyone’s well-being.
“Exercise is important for everyone, and incorporating these gentle exercises into a daily routine is incredibly beneficial to the well-being of those with dementia,” says Trish. “Even just five minutes a day can provide huge benefits. This month, try something new – you may be surprised at just how wonderful you or your loved one feel after doing it.”
Dedicated Memory Care
Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull delivers highly specialized memory care assisted living for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our resident-centered approach focuses on providing dignity, purpose and moments of joy in daily life for those in all stages of the disease. We offer a wellness-focused lifestyle that centers around a resident’s current skills and abilities, not those that have been lost to dementia.
Life-Enriching Programs
Our team members take an active role in getting to know each resident on a personal level to deliver programming that is meaningful to them. We account for the preferences, interests, needs and abilities of our residents to connect with them and encourage their involvement in daily life and boost self-esteem.
Warm, Residential Atmosphere
Featuring a stunning residential design, every inch of our community has been designed to benefit those with memory loss. Attributes such as soft colors, directional cues and aromatherapy create a soothing and secure environment where residents feel comfortable, safe and at home.
Bridges® by EPOCH is New England’s largest stand-alone memory care assisted living provider.