By Wellness Manager, Alison McMillan

While it may be the end of spring, it’s always a good time to think about fall. No, not fall the season where the leaves change and the weather cools, but rather tumbles, stumbles, trips, and spills. One in four Americans over the age of 65 fall each year and almost 40% of those who fall suffer injury from it. While there’s a variety of factors that can cause an increased risk of falling, such as medications, loss of strength and balance, increased trip hazards at home, and lack of sufficient nutrition, there are also ways to mitigate and reduce your fall risk.

One of those ways is Yoga! Yoga has been growing in popularity in senior Americans. In fact, participation has doubled in the last 10 years; no wonder since yoga can be practiced by virtually everyone!

By practicing slow movements with holding poses, yoga helps to build strength throughout the body – legs, arms, and most importantly the core. It also helps to improve flexibility in stiff muscles and joints. Many poses enhance stability and balance and teach the body how to adjust to changes in its position.
It requires the participant to practice focus and concentration on their body.

Yoga poses improve the mind-body connection through coordination and mindfulness exercises. It requires the body and the brain to speak to and understand each other, which builds stronger neurological connections. The nature of the weight bearing yoga poses help to strengthen bones therefore helping reduce the risk of a fracture should you fall.

To celebrate International Yoga Day, Trinity Woods is offering yoga classes twice-a-week by Julie Clemons! Julie is certified through YogaFit and has been teaching yoga for 18 years. Julie says, “If you want to get out of bed a little easier in the morning and who doesn’t – try yoga!”