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Yoga

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What does it mean to stay fit as we age? Is it the physical body, the mental processes, or the spiritual connection with which we are most concerned? What is the secret to a full and productive life during our fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties? What can you expect from yoga? The answers to these questions vary depending upon the person. Yoga is a system for continued health throughout life. It can be practiced at any age with appropriate adaptations for each person's level of health and vitality.

The word yoga conjures up many images in people's minds. Some imagine skinny supple‐bodied people folding themselves up in postures that look next to impossible for the common stiff folk among us. Others may think it some quirky religion or new age fad. Yoga is an ancient system for healing. The meaning of the word yoga may be defined as yoking or bringing together. Yoga, in its essence, is a union of the mind, body, and spirit.

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  • Bijlami RL, Vempati RP, Yadav RK et al (2005) A brief but comprehensive lifestyle education program based on yoga reduces risk factors or cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. J Altern Complement Med 11(2):267–274

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© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Bailey, L. (2008). Yoga. In: Loue, S.J., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_455

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_455

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-33753-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-33754-8

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