Baycrest

The benefits of yoga as we age W hen 93-year-old yoga instructor Allen Rudolph talks about his secrets to a long and fulfilling life, his gratitude to the women in his life is palpable. "My mother saved my life and my wife made my life," says the Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force veteran. Determined to do his part for the war effort, in 1939 Rudolph, then 15-years-old, lied about his age to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces. "The war had just started and I wanted to get into the army. I was young, patriotic, and I thought I should go and do my bit," says Rudolph. "But my mother had other plans for me. She told the powers that be that I was underage and not allowed to join the army." Three years later, he enlisted with the Air Force and began working as a welder airframe mechanic, allowing him to spend most of his time in Canada. "If I had gone overseas at the age of 15 I'm sure I never would have survived," says Rudolph. Following the war, Rudolph married and began to lay down roots in Toronto, focusing on new beginnings and a return to his personal interests, including his life long commitment to physical fitness. "I've always been active, but I give my wife full credit for introducing me to yoga," he says. "Originally, I didn't think much of yoga, but she talked me into going to a class with her while on vacation 26 years ago. After that, I was hooked." Rudolph says that he was surprised by improvements to his flexibility, something that up until that point in his life he had always found difficult. During the months that followed, he practised yoga every day and enrolled in a yoga instructor course. Rudolph now does yoga and meditates 365 days a year, which he credits for keeping his body strong and mind clear. "He's found a gold star activity," says Dr. Susan Vandermorris, a psychologist with the Neuropsychology and Cognitive Health Program at Baycrest Health Sciences. "Yoga combines multiple activities that we know are good for the brain, including exercise, constantly learning new things, focus and attention." Dr. Vandermorris adds that starting healthy habits early can delay the onset of brain health and physical challenges later in life. "The bottom line is anything that's good for the heart is also good for the brain. The earlier you can establish healthy habits, the better the long-term benefits will be," says Dr. Vandermorris. Rudolph now guides weekly yoga classes at the Terraces of Baycrest and encourages others to find the right activities for their life. For more articles like this visit: baycrest.org/brainmatters "...anything that's good for the heart is good for the brain." 12 BrainMatters SPRING 2017 BRAIN HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGA 1. Strengthen muscles and the heart, which helps the brain 2. Constantly learn new things 3. Strengthen focus and attention 4. Lower stress with meditative qualities

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