A very large study involving 5314 men between the ages of 65 and 92 showed a correlation between a higher capacity of exercise with a lower mortality rate.  The fittest individuals had a 61% lower mortality risk. You can read more about this study and the benefits of staying fit.

Tai chi alone was found to increase participants’ immunity to varicella, and tai chi combined with the vaccine produced a significantly higher level of immunity, about a 40 percent increase, over the vaccine alone. Read more about this study.

Strength training helps improve balance, helps to prevent falls and provides greater participation in daily activities. An appropriate exercise routine targets the muscles of the entire body. A challenging workout for seniors even seniors in the nineties is easily performed while seated, standing or while utilizing an exercise ball. Learn more about which exercises seniors can do to improve muscle strength.

Pavanmukta Asana, or the Wind Releasing Posture, is a yoga posture that is perfect for bedridden patients, whether they can do it by themselves or with the help of their caregiver. How to perform this posture including an illustration is provided.

A former UCLA professor is recommending yoga for the treatment of IBS. Researchers are looking at yoga as a possible treatment for curvature of the spine in the elderly. Learn more about the benefits of yoga and some exciting new studies.

Strokes can be terribly debilitating. One of the most frustrating and potentially dangerous consequences of a stroke is the loss of balance. Researchers in Hong Kong have conducted a study of 136 participants who all had suffered a stroke 6 months or more before the research started. Learn why The National Institutes’ Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is now sponsoring studies to discover more about Tai Chi’s effects in a range of medical conditions, including where it can be shown to be most effective.

The first study looked at 155 women, 65 to 75 years old. The women were assigned to weight training (resistance exercise) programs one or two times per week, or to twice-weekly balance-and-tone exercises, such as stretching, core strength, and balance exercises for one year. Women in both resistance training groups significantly improved their selective attention and conflict resolution skills compared with women in the balance and tone group. Learn more about the advantages of weight training and its effect on cognitive skills.

In addition to improving balance and muscle strength, new studies show that tai chi when done regularly can enhance immune function and improve cardiovascular health and much more. Learn about the multiple benefits of tai chi.

To encourage seniors to exercise, outdoor playgrounds are popping up across Europe. And now London will be opening one. Seniors prefer working out outside as they aren’t intimated by well-toned bodies often seen at a gym or health club. These new activity areas also provide a means for seniors to socialize. Learn more about this new trend.

Muscle wasting, also known as sarcopenia affects all of us as we age. As a matter of fact, it starts after the age of 40. However, there are ways that we can delay its progression. Historically we have placed an emphasis on bone health. However, sarcopenia also contributes to the risk of falling. Since it is easier to prevent muscle loss than to restore lost muscle, particularly in the elderly, we have an obligation to educate our seniors as to the measures that they can take to keep their muscles strong and healthy. Learn more about how to delay the progression of sarcopnenia.