Lyengar Yoga May Help Prevent Falls

Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries and hospitalization for trauma in people over 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). So anything that can prevent them is obviously welcome. Improving balance and stability is something that yoga offers, according to its practitioners and teachers. And this should result in fewer falls.

Temple University’s Gait Study Center has put one type of yoga – lyengar - to the test. The results of their study were presented at the recent Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis meeting. Twenty-four over-65 women were enrolled in a program specifically designed for older persons. After 9 weeks’ tuition, the participants had a faster stride, increased flexibility of their lower limbs, an improved single-leg stance, and increased confidence in walking and balancing.

What’s special about lyengar yoga? It can be practiced by everyone. The emphasis is on precision and alignment in all postures. And props, such as belts and ropes, may be used to help the participant to ‘reach perfection’ in postures. The program for the over-65s was designed to be a basic regimen teaching the proper ways to breathe, stand, and pose, with concentration on the lower limbs. It was created by BKS Lyengar, and has been widely used by a number of institutions and celebrities.

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[forexguy]

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