Meditate And Exercise To Improve Concentration

For older people being able to concentrate on a task in hand is important. It can make the difference between being dependent and having to ask others for help. Did you know that regular meditation and exercise can help you focus and improve concentration?

Meditation and yoga

Supervised stretching and deep breathing exercises can help you improve concentration. All people have worries, and people attending adult day care centers may have more than many.

Being conscious of the flow of air into the lungs and the exhalation process is important in mediation. It’s one of the techniques that teachers of yoga and meditation use. The aim is to focus the mind on breathing which helps push aside other thoughts and relieve stress.

Meditation and the focused stretching routines of yoga can help people of all ages stay calm. When done properly and regularly they make you feel more at ease with yourself. They can also help elderly people with chronic ailments to better cope with what life throws at them.

Senior black man sitting on a wheel chair and doing exercise as a part of physical therapy at Fairview ADC.

How can exercise help improve concentration?

Studies show that regular physical activity releases chemical compounds that improve concentration and memory. If that activity is also enjoyable in a social setting, such as dancing, so much the better.

Exercises make you feel good while helping you to focus and be in control. If, for whatever reason, your balance is not good, exercise can have a positive effect. When you improve concentration, you will find that you improve your balancing skills.

This can assist the elderly and infirm to do the daily tasks they need to do to maintain their independence. Nobody likes to ask for help all the time, so taking time to do exercise can help you in life.

Exercise improves blood circulation

Exercises that improve heart rate, also improve circulation. This helps deliver oxygen around the body. Cold fingers or toes and heavy legs or lethargy may indicate poor circulation.

If you have a feeling of numbness in your legs taking a walk or stretching your legs can help. Exercise affects the whole body, improves blood flow to the brain and can improve concentration.

In elderly people narrowing of the arteries is more common so exercise can be highly beneficial. But any physical activity needs to be regular and well managed.

Increase energy

Typically, elderly people tend to spend much of the day sitting down due to low energy levels. However, carefully managed regular physical activity can, counter-intuitively, reduce fatigue and boost energy levels.

Exercise can improve your cardiovascular health. Getting your heart rate going through physical activity like walking also releases hormones called endorphins. These can improve your mood, help you sleep better and improve concentration.

Research suggests that all people, including those with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, benefit from exercise.

Sharpen memory

Losing your memory and forgetting things is frustrating and stressful. It can reduce your independence in old age. Boosting your heart rate through exercise can improve concentration, learning ability, and cognitive function.

Reminiscing and remembering the good times is also very important for older people’s mental health. Talking about the past is a great way to socialize and keep others interested in you.

Meditation, yoga and physical activity can help keep your memory in trim and slow the onset of diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Fairview Adult Day Care in Brooklyn offers a wide range of exercise regimes in a friendly and supportive setting. Apart from physical therapy, yoga and meditation, we organize dances and singalongs. They are all are good for the spirit and focus! Our aim is to make you smile, feel mentally and physically stronger, and to improve your concentration.

This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.