by Jackie Rioux (RYT-500), Wise Mind Yoga Therapy –
Is it true that balance decreases with age? Let’s try an experiment to find out. Stand up – if you’re not doing so already – and shift your weight to one leg. Now close your eyes. What happened?
I’m willing to bet you felt unsteady. You might even have felt unsafe. All you had to do was open your eyes and put both feet on the ground, but for a moment you were at risk of falling. With that risk comes the taste of fear. There is a good reason for this.
If you live on the Saanich Peninsula, the chances are good you are over the age of 64, based on the 2021 Census. Statistically speaking, more than one in four people over the age of 65 fall each year. Half of those falls occur in the home, and most falls can be prevented. Fall prevention becomes more important as we age because falls are the leading cause of injury, hospitalization and death in older adults. Falls also increase our fear of falling again, leading to a change in lifestyle that limits leaving the home or participating in regular activity.
To answer the initial question, yes – balance does decrease with age. But we can do something about this. We can develop balance recovery and prevent falls before they happen. One way to do this is to develop a regular yoga practice.
Studies show that yoga contributes to health and longevity by strengthening muscles, increasing proprioception (your body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location) and improving both static (the ability to hold a posture without swaying) and dynamic balance (reaction time changes as you move). Yoga helps us develop postural awareness and address misalignment, which in turn can reduce pain, tension and improve our overall well-being. Breathing practices help reduce fear and maintain equilibrium. Perhaps most convincingly, yoga is more than just exercise; it’s a way of living with compassion, attention and purpose.
One form to incorporate into your daily routine is Tree pose. Begin in a comfortable standing position. Lift your right heel and let it rest on the ankle of the left foot. You can keep the toes of the right foot on the ground for additional balance. Notice that your right knee and hip turn out slightly. Let the palms of your hands touch and keep your gaze steady on an unmoving spot. Breathe easefully, then switch sides.
A wise woman once said that aging is not lost youth, but rather a new stage of opportunity and strength. Take this article as an opportunity to reassess your own balance and dare to set foot on a yoga mat to see what yoga can do for you. Better yet, seek a class or instructor with a focus on healthy aging and better balance. If you live on the Peninsula, you’re fortunate to have more than a few yoga classes to choose from. You might even consider trying a Balance and Fall Prevention workshop at McTavish Academy of Art or Funketown Wellness Centre.
Happy practising!
For more information, visit www.wisemindyogatherapy.com.
