Project Status: Completed

Last Updated: 14 September 2022

About this Project:

Andiappan Yoga Community is invited as the Yoga Partner by Yan Oi Tong to introduce yoga to seniors as a therapeutic and overall physical exercise.

Yan Oi Tong (YOT) is a charitable organization established in 1977 and has become one of the largest full-service charity groups in Hong Kong. One of the key missions of YOT is caring for the aged and delivering timely and comprehensive caring services through social, educational, medical, sports, and recreational services across its 170 centers in Hong Kong.

Currently, one in eight people is over 65 years old in Hong Kong. According to the World Health Organization, with increased life expectancy coupled with lower birth rates, 40% of Hong Kong’s population will be 65 and over by 2050, ranking it 5th in the world for cities with the largest percentage of senior citizens. Currently, 70% of those over 65 in Hong Kong are experiencing some form of chronic illness such as high blood pressure and diabetes. With Hong Kong’s aging population, and the fact the elderly population is largely living alone or with their spouses, community healthcare and preventive health management for them become increasingly important.

It is important for senior citizens to stay active and mobile. Yoga – incorporating physical postures, breathing, and relaxation techniques, is a wonderful option for seniors to stay active and flexible without muscle strain as well as maintain positive mental well-being.

How Positive-Ageing yoga benefits this group?

1. Better Sleeping Habits – Research has found that seniors practicing yoga reduce their fall-sleep time by an average of 10 minutes and increased their sleeping duration by an average of one hour.
2. Improve Strength and Protect Joints – Yoga can help improve muscle strength and also protect the joints hence reducing the risk of conditions such as arthritis.
3. Reduce Hypertension – Patients with mild to moderate high blood pressure saw improvement after 3 months of yoga practice. There were also corresponding declines in cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides.
4. Improve Mood and Reduce Anxiety – Research suggests that yoga has a bigger impact on mood enhancement and anxiety reduction than other forms of exercise. Yoga practice results in increased levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a natural brain relaxant that has a calming effect on the body and mind.
5. Relieve Breathing and Lung Issues – One study found that regular yoga practice can increase lung capacity by as much as 10% in just 40 days. Bronchial asthmatics have also been found to benefit from just 30 minutes of yoga breathing.
6. Flexibility without Strain – Yoga is perfect for seniors who want to stay active without the strain associated with high-intensity cardio exercise and strength training. As a low-impact exercise, it helps seniors build joint flexibility and muscle strength as well as increase the range of motion with a lower risk of injury.

For Volunteers: Interested in volunteering for this project?

Teaching volunteers should have a minimum of 200hrs Yoga Teacher Training Courses with International Yoga Academy HK.  Learn how to Get Involved as an AYC Volunteer and apply for this project.

Please note that classes are conducted in Cantonese.  Cantonese-speaking teachers are preferred for this project as most students can only understand Cantonese.

長者治療瑜伽課程 （仁愛堂 賽馬會「e健樂」電子健康管理計劃)

目前，香港有八分之一的人超過 65 歲。 根據世界衛生組織的數據，隨著預期壽命的延長和出生率的降低，到 2050 年，香港 40% 的人口將達到 65 歲及以上，在老年人口比例最高的城市中排名世界第五。 目前，香港超過 65 歲的老人中有 70% 患有某種形式的慢性疾病，例如高血壓和糖尿病。 隨著香港人口老化，加上老年人口大多獨居或與配偶同住，社區醫療和預防性健康管理對他們來說變得越來越重要。

對於老年人來說，保持活躍和身體機能活動性是很重要的。 瑜伽——結合身體姿勢、呼吸和放鬆技巧，是老年人保持活躍和靈活而不會肌肉拉傷以及保持積極心理健康的絕佳選擇。

Andiappan Yoga Community 被邀請為仁愛堂的長者提供瑜伽練習課堂。透過練習瑜伽，強化身體機能, 為身心帶來健康。

仁愛堂 (YOT) 成立於 1977 年，是香港最大的全方位服務慈善團體之一。  YOT 的主要使命之一是通過其在香港的 170 個中心提供社會、教育、醫療、體育和康樂服務，為老年人提供及時和全面的護理服務。

項目: 長者治療瑜伽課程 （仁愛堂 賽馬會「e健樂」電子健康管理計劃)

課程時段: 2021年11月19號至12月13號

時間: 逢星期一及星期五(下午 2:30 – 3:30 & 下午3:30 – 4:30)

地點: 仁愛堂吳金玉紀念長者鄰舍中心 – 屯門三聖邨豐漁樓地下第二號亭

教學語言: 廣東話

老年人瑜伽課程的好處：

1. 更好的睡眠習慣——研究發現，練習瑜伽的老年人平均減少 10 分鐘的跌倒睡眠時間，增加平均 1 小時的睡眠時間。
2. 增強力量和保護關節——瑜伽可以幫助增強肌肉力量並保護關節，從而降低關節炎等疾病的風險。
3. 降低高血壓——輕度至中度高血壓患者在練習3個月的瑜伽後有所改善。 膽固醇、血糖和甘油三酯也相應下降。
4. 改善情緒和減少焦慮——研究表明，與其他形式的運動相比，瑜伽對改善情緒和減少焦慮的影響更大。 瑜伽練習會增加伽馬氨基丁酸 (GABA) 的水平，這是一種天然的大腦鬆弛劑，對身心有鎮靜作用。
5. 緩解呼吸和肺部問題——一項研究發現，經常練習瑜伽可以在短短 40 天內將肺活量提高 10%。 還發現支氣管哮喘患者僅從 30 分鐘的瑜伽呼吸中受益。
6. 柔韌無壓力 – 瑜伽非常適合希望保持活躍而沒有高強度有氧運動和力量訓練帶來的壓力的老年人。 作為一種低衝擊運動，它可以幫助老年人增強關節靈活性和肌肉力量，並以較低的受傷風險增加運動範圍。

義工導師資格：已完成最少200小時［香港國際瑜伽學院瑜伽教師培訓課程］之 AYC 義工均可申請參與。

感激你的熱誠和參與，實踐 AYC 的使命，分享瑜伽的恩澤。

如有興趣參加此活動，請致電仁愛堂吳金玉紀念長者鄰舍中心 24522790