Balance and Falls

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to have good balance to assist in fall prevention. The CDC reports that 1 in every 3 people over the age of 65 years old will fall one time each year. This statistic increases to ½  population over the age of 80 years old. Those are some pretty staggering numbers! These falls can result in minor bruises or bumps but also often result in fractures or head injuries.  To prevent injury, we suggest assessing yourself to determine if you are likely to be one of those who might be at risk of a fall. 

Self Assessment Yoga Style

Thanks for checking out our second post on Posture in the month of May.  Last week we told you what "optimal posture" would look like.  Today's article incorporates some self mobility, assessment and awareness to work on correcting your posture by sensing were you are in space.  Let us know how it feels when you get your self "stacked up right" (or is it "upright"!!!)

Standing Postural Assessment 2: You can also check your posture by bringing awareness to your body. Give it a try on your own, or come see Erin at our yoga classes Tuesday at 8 AM or Thursday at 7:30 PM. Stand with your feet slightly apart, placed directly under your sit bones. Shift your weight slightly forward and backward on your feet a few times. Then, settle with equal weight on the heel and ball of the foot. Next, shift your weight onto the inside and outside edges of your feet a few times. Then, settle with equal weight on the inside and outside points of the foot. Moving up, stack your knees directly over your ankles. Then hips over your knees. Check in!  Do you have equal weight on each leg?  Are you able keep muscles relaxed along the front and back of your legs? Now, bring your attention to your tailbone and pelvis. Your center of gravity is located here. Tip your pelvis forward and backward a few times. Then, settle so your tailbone is pointing down towards the floor directly between your feet and your belly is tightened slightly like you are zipping up a pair of pants. Continue by moving your attention up your spine stacking each vertebrae on top of one another. Now, turn your attention to your rib cage, gently rock forward and back a few times to feel gravity pull you in each direction.  Settle in the middle so your rib cage is stacked over your hips and you feel like your rib cage is floating effortlessly over your abdomen. Bring your attention to your shoulders. Shift your shoulder blades up and down, forward and back, then in circles. Settle with your palms facing forward, your shoulder blades gently pinching and your chest opening. Now move your attention up your neck, one segment at a time until you get to the base of your head. Gently tuck your chin so the crown of your head is reaching towards the ceiling and the base of your head is gently resting on the top of your neck.   Imagine yourself being pulled from the crown of the head along that "plumb line"  that we discussed in the previous post.  Lengthen out your body, reversing the effects of gravity. Stand tall and feel what it is like to draw awareness to your posture.

As always we hope the information is helpful in your daily pursuit of good health and improvements in mobility