6 Anti Aging Yoga Poses
for Youthful Tone

Practicing yoga has been proven to offer many different mental and physical health benefits. These include the ability to "slow the clock" or even reverse the aging process due to the positive impact yoga has on the mind and the body. 

The beauty of yoga is that you can begin it at any age to keep your mind and body working in harmony. On the physical side, you will see an improvement in your overall strength, flexibility, and balance. 

Some of the mental benefits include better clarity and a reduction in stress and anxiety. This combination can help you to feel younger on the inside, and look more youthful on the outside.

Anti Aging Yoga Poses

Forward Bend

Use the forward bend to warm up your joints and muscles.

Pose Instructions:

• Standing straight up with your feet together, take a large exhale and bend at the waist to fold forward. 
• Keep your knees straight and try and either press your palms on the floor or grab the back of your ankles.

• More Information on the Forward Bend

Downward Facing Dog

Slow moving low impact poses like the downward dog allow you to build within these areas without putting much stress on your muscles and joints.

Pose Instructions:

• Begin on your hands and knees with your hands shoulder width apart. Make sure to have your hands firmly pressed into the ground to avoid any wrist strain.
  
  
• Slowly lift your knees and straighten your legs so that your pose ends up looking like an upside down V. Press your heels flat on the ground and have your pose supported equally between your upper and lower body. 

• More Information on the Downward Facing Dog

Bridge Pose

Inversion poses like the bridge are great ways to build core strength and relieve tightness in the back.

Pose Instructions:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet firmly planted on the floor and your arms at your sides.
• Engage your abs, press your feet into the floor and lift your hips (as pictured). Use your legs to raise your abs higher and press your shoulders down into the floor to raise your chest higher.
• Squeeze your butt and hold the pose for 15-20 seconds.

• More Information on the Bridge Yoga Pose

Warrior ll

Warrior II is an excellent anti aging yoga pose that will improve balance and mental focus. Those are some of the most important benefits of yoga, especially as you get older.

Pose Instructions:

• Standing straight with your feet spread wide apart, push one foot back and open your hips, turning your back toes to face the same side (as pictured).
• Bend your front knee to a 90-degree angle as you extend your arms out to the sides and away from the body in a straight horizontal line.
• Looking over your front hand, engage your abs and hold the pose for 20-30 seconds. Then switch legs and repeat.

More Information on the Warrior ll  Pose

Childs Pose

Child's is a restful yoga movement that reduces stress and stretches out the lower back and hips.

Pose Instructions:

• Start in a kneeling position and lower your butt down to your heels as you push the rest of your body down and forward.
• When you are fully stretched forward, lay your hands along the floor straight out in front of you and release your shoulders toward the floor.
• This a restful pose that you can hold for 30 seconds or for a few minutes.

Benefits of Anti Aging Yoga

Balance & Flexibility - As we get older, our balance and flexibility decreases. Moving and stretching with some anti aging yoga postures will greatly increase your body's natural range of motion and improve your balance.

Strength - Most poses require you to use your own body weight as resistance. Holding yoga poses will give you balanced strength in all of your muscle groups.

Mental Calm - The mental focus required on managing your body with yoga poses actually reduces your stress and brings a sense of calm to the mind.

Self Confidence - Regular yoga will give you a positive awareness of your body.

Pain Avoidance - Getting fit at 55 or 65 means it is time to listen more to the body. It's important to find exercises that don't cause too much pain and aggravation. Yoga is an excellent low-impact workout option that's easier on the body than many other activities.

Other pages that might interest you:

• Other Anti Aging Workouts
• Yoga Diet
• Yoga for the Beginner

I will continue to share ideas about diet and exercise that have helped me along the way. If you have any questions I can help you with, or ideas you would like to share, feel free to contact me or visit our Q&A forum