Mount Pleasant Senior Living 2019

www.CharlestonRetirementLifestyle.com | www.RetiringToSC.com | www.HotRetirementTowns.com senior living SL H al Currey of Sullivan’s Island described yoga as the “most relaxing thing I’ve ever done.” He’s 82, and, although he said yoga is relaxing, it can also be quite powerful. “It has become a very important part of my life, both physically and mentally,” he said. Currey attends a one-on-one class with Tricia Hughey, co-owner and instructor at Yoga Daily on Riviera Drive in Mount Pleasant. He admits that his wife “dragged” him to the first class three years ago, but now he loves it and recommends it to all his friends. Janis St. Onge of Mount Pleasant is 67 and attends weekly yoga classes at Yoga Daily as well. “I’ve been taking a yoga class every Wednesday night for the past 18 years,” she said. She echoed Currey’s praise of this healthy activity, “It helps me with balance, which demands concentration. The stretching keeps me flexible. The meditation helps me take control of my blood pressure, and the breathing exercises help me to sleep.” Yoga, with its gentle movements, yet focus on strength and stretching, seems to be the perfect way to stay fit as we age. In fact, the National Institute on Aging reported that yoga was found to help reduce chronic low-back pain and improve function in older individuals. Hughey suggested yoga as a form of exercise for seniors due to its slower pace and its effectiveness with improving joint stability, mobility and strength. “It can build bone density and improve posture and balance,” she explained. “All are important to prevent falls.” She has found that if a senior does fall, when they practice yoga, they fall, perhaps, less hard, have the strength to get back up and recover quicker. Bonnie Friedman teaches yoga at the Mount Pleasant Senior Center on Von Kolnitz Road. She has worked with seniors in many fitness modalities for the past 12 years. She suggested that seniors look for either a gentle yoga class, yin BY THERESA STRATFORD The Yoga Trend is Up … In Age, That Is! Photo courtesy of Bonnie Friedman. Bonnie Friedman, therapeutic yoga instructor of Mount Pleasant Senior Center, demonstrating chair yoga.