Virgin Active blog
Yoga for Healthy Ageing
International Day of Yoga is on 21 June and this year it’s all about Yoga for Healthy Ageing. But what exactly is healthy ageing, how does yoga help and what yoga exercises are most beneficial?
What is Healthy Ageing?
Healthy ageing is a concept defined by the World Health Organisation which focuses on preventative wellbeing, rather than treating disease. Healthy ageing is defined as being physically and mentally able to do the things that keep you happy and contribute to your wellbeing later on in life. That includes anything that gives your life value, like:
- Being able to look after yourself and meet your basic needs
Making decisions
Being able to move
Building and keeping relationships
Making a contribution to society
The takeaway: Look after yourself now so that you continue to feel well as you age.
How does yoga help?
Yoga supports wellbeing at all ages and abilities. It’s great for beginners and those who want more gentle movement as well as people who are used to more vigorous cardio, deep strength and stretching.
Yoga and physical health
When it comes to physical health, yoga supports healthy ageing in a number of ways, including mobility, flexibility, balance and strength. It’s this type of full-body movement that can improve your range of motion and make you feel more free in your body.
- Exercises like Bridge Pose and Chair Pose can help to build strength
Exercises like Tree Pose and Warrior II will help with your balance
Exercises like Cat-Cow can help with spinal mobility
Keep up your yoga practice and over time, you’ll notice that exercises and poses you initially found hard become much easier and physical tasks in your day-to-day life, like carrying and reaching, will feel better too.
As you age, this can help to prevent your fall risk, keeping you steady on your feet for longer.
Yoga and mental wellbeing
While most exercise has a positive impact on your mental wellbeing, yoga is unique because you’re constantly encouraged to check in with your mind.
Yoga is known for giving you mental space and for helping you manage your stress. But it also helps you practice:
- Staying focused
Sitting with discomfort
Building a relationship with yourself
Making decisions on whether to progress or modify your movement
Making these choices in class helps you develop them in life as well.
And, the result of this combined physical and mental practice? It all supports healthy ageing.
Where can I find yoga classes near me?
You’ll find a Yoga class in your nearest Virgin Active. We offer 5 different styles, with most of our clubs offering our signature Yoga Foundations, Yoga Align, Yoga Flow and Yoga Calm classes. Our Mayfair and Kensington clubs also offer Hot Yoga.
FAQs
What is International Day of Yoga?
International Day of Yoga is an annual event which celebrates the practice of yoga and its mental and physical benefits. It happens on 21 June and in 2026, the theme is: Yoga for Healthy Ageing.
What is yoga?
Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice which focuses on uniting body and breath. It’s great for managing stress, helping you to become more stable, developing your strength, helping your balance, improving your sleep and encouraging self-care.
Where can I find yoga studios near me?
Yoga is a very popular way to move and you’ll find lots of yoga studios near you. If you’re a member of Virgin Active (or want to become one), you’ll also find classes in all of our clubs.
Is yoga good for beginners?
Yes, yoga is great for beginners, especially if you take a Virgin Active Yoga class. We have Yoga Foundations classes which help you to get to grips with yoga poses and positions as well as all the terminology. From there, you can move into our Yoga Calm, Yoga Align or Yoga Flow classes.
