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Dr. Kim Mulvihill reportingIn the language of Sanskit, yoga means in part "to control." And "control" is what researchers found older women have after practicing one kind of yoga for just a few months.
Some see yoga as simply trendy. But instructors call the ancient group of practices a true fountain of youth, and there's evidence to back that up.
Researchers enrolled two dozen women over age of 65 in a nine-week yoga program. The women had little or no previous experience. The yoga practiced was a type called Iyengar, where props such as belts and blocks are used to help participants perform various postures
After nine weeks of yoga, there was a big change. The women had a faster stride, increased flexibility, improved single leg stance and increased confidence in walking and balance. Suzanne Knight Carlson took part in the study. She says, "Walking, moving. I'm far more mobile than I was ever before. I think it changed my self-confidence, my posture."
Yoga instructor Sandy Koteen said, "People who do come back, come to class on a regular basis. They absolutely do transform."
The really great news, by improving a person's balance and stability, yoga can help reduce fall.
More than a third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States. The consequences can be devastating. Whatever we can do to change that is a good idea.
E-mail: drkim@ksl.com
