Yoga for Stress and Anxiety

What do you think of when you hear the word “yoga”?

Probably some of the images that come to mind include a group of people all in a room together, doing elaborate, sweaty stretches or trying to keep their balance in tricky postures on colorful mats.

What many people don’t know is that the practice of yoga, which is thousands of years old, has traditionally been a spiritual practice with a goal of bringing a person into a state of Samadhi, or union with divinity. With this goal in mind, practitioners would use physical postures, breathing exercises, focus, meditation, and a set of moral principles – like non-violence, truthfulness, and non-stealing, for example – to guide them. So, the practice of yoga is much more than just physical exercise!

Whether you use yoga for spiritual purposes, or not, is up to you. Regardless, the practice can have many benefits for mental and physical health, including reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety that can be consuming for so many people.

When we are stressed out or anxious, our bodies go into a natural response to cope with the moment; this is commonly known as fight or flight mode. Some symptoms include shallow breathing, racing thoughts, feeling a constriction in the gut, or tensing up muscles. While these symptoms are useful in moments when we need to act quickly in response to a threat in our environments, prolonged symptoms like these aren’t helpful and can lead to physical and mental health problems.

Stress often seems insurmountable, but yoga is a tool that can help. For example, the physical practice can help ease tension in the muscles and increase blood flow to the brain and digestive system, helping a tense gut to relax; the breathing practice can increase oxygen to the lungs and heart, allowing a racing heart to slow down; and the mindfulness practice can help us to become aware of our thoughts and allow them to come and go, rather than take control of our lives; and the moral philosophy can help put our behavior into context and help us find a sense of purpose.

To learn more about yoga, check out these offerings through OCDoA:

• “Gentle Joy of Yoga” Tuesdays 9:00am-9:50am at Seymour Center
• “Gentle Joy of Yoga” (includes chair) Mondays 10:00am-10:50am at Passmore Center
• “Yoga with Hui!” Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:40pm-8:40pm at Seymour Center
• “Chair Yoga with Abbey” Thursday, 8/24 – 3:00pm at Passmore Center
• “Chair Yoga with Abbey” Thursday, 8/10 – 3:00pm at Seymour Center

The 2023 Senior Housing Guide is Here!

As part of the 2022-2027 Master Aging Plan, Orange County aims to ensure older adults living in Orange County know about the array of housing options available to match their diverse preferences and abilities. To accomplish this aim, the Orange County Department on Aging and UNC’s Department of Health Sciences Community Practice Lab have conducted an inventory of current and future senior-designated housing. Information about the types, prevalence, costs, and availability of housing currently available in Orange County, NC is incorporated into this Guide.

This document aims to provide guidance for older adults and their families making important decisions about housing. These decisions are often influenced by changing preferences, physical and cognitive abilities, and resources. We also hope this guide will be a launching point for community discussions and decisions about housing models that will best serve older adults in Orange County.

Click here to view the ORANGE COUNTY, NC SENIOR HOUSING GUIDE 2023.

FREE Nutrition Supplements

If you have NC Medicaid, you may be eligible to receive free oral nutrition supplements, like Boost or Ensure. Contact the Aging Helpline for more information at 919-968-2087.