AS the saying goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – but you are never too old to learn the downward facing dog!

For some in the older generation yoga may seem like a ‘new age’ fad or a daunting challenge too far out of reach.

However, a specialist in Bolton believes that people taking up the exercise in the later years of their life has results which are ‘nothing short of remarkable’.

Anthony Ashley started up his Yoga Thrive group after moving from Los Angeles to Bromley Cross just over three years ago.

Teaming up with Age UK his classes teaching seniors have seen the group go from strength to strength.

Not only that but he believes it supports getting people to take their health into their own hands.

He said: “After being with the same people over the year I can recall back to them first walking through the door. The difference physically is they look a decade or more younger.

“They are standing up straight and head held high – if you measured them they would probably be a little taller!

“I started the group because I really wanted to do something for people in my age group and older to help them regain mobility you loss over the years.

“Yoga is getting more attention here but its really popular in the US than it is here, but if you listen to the radio lately it’s being talked about a lot.

“I have practiced yoga for six years and from my personal experience there is a lot of physical improvement.

“It definitely improves your quality of life and the Age UK charity really support and believe that.”

Fifty-four-year-old Anthony first started volunteering as a yoga teacher for Age UK in November last year.

The class at Thicketford House Community Care Centre attract new keep-fit fans aged from their 50s through to their late 60s and beyond.

Participants do not have to be as flexible as you would expect either.

It is not about pushing people into unusual posses but helping to slowly build skills – allowing people to move as they feel comfortable.

Participants try out both stretching and standing posses.

These can include anything from holding the ‘plank’ – where you lift your body off the floor with straight arms and the balls of your feet – to the downward-facing dog – holding your body out in a half pike position with your arms and feet in the floor.

But for Anthony, the sessions are not just about posing.

He explains: “Breathing is very important, in yoga we do a lot of breathing work.

“Not many people are concious of their breathing and it is often very shallow and not at it’s full potential.

“We start each lesson breathing into the diaphragm and letting go of all thoughts of the outside.

“If you can get your breathing right then it has a knock-on effect with your lifestyle. Breathing helps you control your nervous system.

“You can do more exercise and it also has a very calming and relaxing affect. It improves your sense of wellbeing.”

The long-term effects of the exercise are not just about appearance either.

For Anthony, he believes that they can help people take hold of their lifestyle as a whole.

He adds: “the NHS in peril people need to take their health care into their own hands.

“Yoga is a fine practice to help the ageing with increasing their strength, balance and mobility to name a few things.

“The huge issues at the moment is the the loss of mobility with everyone living a more sedentary lifestyle. We are also living longer as well and as time goes by if you don’t move your body you lose mobility.

“This is just a really go way to turn back the hands of time.

“It strengthen muscles and improves balance. As balance and strength improves, a person so much less likely to have a fall and can be more active.

“The knock on effect of doing something good for yourself is you start thinking about other ways to take batter care of yourself and your lifestyle improves.”

More information at www.yogathrive.co.uk.