Yoga class attracts many elderly people at the Central Geriatric Hospital - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN
The hospital hopes that through yoga practice, patients will improve their mental health, strengthen their physical health, contribute to building healthy living habits, and help the elderly live happily and healthily.
Mr. Phan Viet Sinh
Laughter and chatter seem to give the patients here more strength and motivation to fight their illness.
"Since I was admitted to the hospital, today is the first time I've smiled this much."
This special yoga class is located on the second floor of the hospital and is called "Cultural Space" - a place for patients to read books, relax and practice yoga.
The small, cozy space has become a familiar "practice ground" for many patients. The yoga class starts at 3:30 p.m., but many elderly people being treated at the hospital have already arrived early to prepare for the practice session.
Sitting in a wheelchair, Mrs. Tran Thi Mai (88 years old, Hanoi ) carefully watched each movement and practiced accordingly. Unable to sit on the exercise mat like other patients, Mrs. Mai moved her hands to each beat, breathed according to the trainer's instructions, and occasionally smiled happily.
Ms. Mai said she had been in the hospital for almost a year and came to this yoga class every day. Although she could not practice much, the class helped her to socialize, talk and feel happier.
Taking care of Mrs. Mai during her treatment, Ms. Hanh also became a "hard" student of this class.
"In the hospital room, the two of us just sat there looking at each other, not knowing what to do. So when it was time to practice, we brought her down here, and I got to practice too.
The class is not only for patients but also for us, the caregivers, who get to "benefit" from it. The trainers are also very enthusiastic," Ms. Hanh said with a smile.
The carpets were neatly laid out, and the patients attentively performed each movement.
Occasionally, the trainer comes down to correct the movements for the elderly. "Inhale, exhale" - the voice and meditation music make the space even more relaxing.
During the laughter yoga session, Mr. Nguyen Van Nam (73 years old, from Thai Nguyen province) excitedly said while lightly jumping on both feet, clapping his hands and laughing loudly: "Since I entered the hospital, perhaps today is the first time I have laughed this much."
Mr. Nam had a stroke relapse and has been hospitalized for 4 days. The previous days he was still tired so he could not go to class. Today, when the social worker came to the hospital room to invite the elderly to come down to practice, Mr. Nam asked his wife to go down to class.
"This is the first time I've practiced yoga and I was surprised that there was such a class in the hospital. After practicing, I felt very comfortable. I got to exercise and laugh at the same time. A smile is worth ten tonics, so from now until I leave the hospital, I will come here to practice every day," Mr. Nam said with a smile.
Mrs. Minh (Mr. Nam's wife) sat next to her husband and shared that after exercising, she felt more relaxed and healthy. "When I get home, I will invite him to exercise at home so that we can both be healthier," Mrs. Minh confided.
Patients have fun exercising, improving their spirits - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN
Patients also need to exercise and relax their minds.
Launched in 2020, the yoga class has been in operation for four years. Recalling the journey of establishing this special class, Mr. Phan Viet Sinh, Deputy Director of the Central Geriatric Hospital, shared that the idea of establishing a yoga class originated from the social work department.
"For the elderly in general and the elderly in particular, proper exercise to maintain functional activities is very important.
With limited space and the target audience being the elderly, we think yoga is a suitable sport . Practicing gentle yoga exercises helps patients relax mentally and exercise to maintain motor function and senses," said Mr. Sinh.
So a yoga class was born right in the hospital lobby. In the early days of operation, the class also encountered many difficulties.
According to Mr. Sinh, the typical treatment for geriatric patients is usually 11-12 days, along with the decline in many functions at the same time, making the elderly tend to be reluctant to exercise.
"At that time, to encourage the elderly to join the class, social work staff had to go to each patient room to introduce the class, the benefits of exercise, and invite the elderly to join," Mr. Sinh shared.
Having been in the class for four years, Ms. Vu Thi Hoa (yoga instructor) still remembers clearly the first days of teaching. Ms. Hoa recounted that at first the class was very empty, with some days only 1-2 patients coming to practice.
"At that time, the social work department went to each patient's room to invite patients to practice. I and the volunteers also researched the exercises to best suit the patients.
The movements are simplified and suitable for the elderly. It took 4-5 months for the class to start operating smoothly, the elderly learned about the class and came to practice more often.
"At first, the class was held only three times a week. Now it is held every afternoon of the week, with 12-15 participants in each class," said Ms. Hoa.
The laughter of the elderly is also the joy and encouragement that makes the coaches still volunteer to stay with the class.
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