Achieving Good Balance is Important at Any Age!

Achieving Good Balance is important at any age. I believe that Yoga contributes to a lifetime of good balance. I have been practicing yoga for more than 15 years. In yoga, we do many balancing tasks, while at the same time, we work our core and work on strength through the range motions of our joints.

 There are many different types of yoga — some that are more stretching oriented for “tight” people and some that are oriented for “loose” people who need to get stronger which is where my needs fall. After practicing the same patterns of movements over the years, one gradually improves, but sometimes one needs to change to help challenge oneself.

Some of the things that I do to subtly change my practice but demand more balance would be to practice standing on two mats instead of one. That subtle change in the thickness of the mat makes one must work harder in some of the balancing poses. Some people who really want to challenge themselves will roll up a mat and stand on the uneven, not very flat surface, to result in the recruitment of more muscle effort for the same pose.

In yoga, we talk about are “Drishti” which means developing concentrated intention or focus. What this means to me as a Vestibular Therapist is that we’re using our visual and vestibular systems to stabilize ourselves so our muscles and our proprioceptors (joint receptors) can effectively help us Balance. In yoga, the Drishti can change to focusing on your hand, focusing across the room, or even focusing on your navel. This always includes that your head is still. If I want to challenge myself, I will sometimes change my focal point or Drishti by moving my head which demands more motor control. Along the same lines, one could close one’s eyes which makes your vestibular system work harder and challenges you more.

There are many benefits from the practice of yoga, which I think contribute to a lifetime of good balance and can help prevent falling or injury whether one is an athlete or a senior. These are subtle ways to make your yoga practice a little more challenging, but no one except for you will know you’re working harder!

Wendy Webb Schoenewald, PT, OCS,

WWS Physical Therapy and Vestibular Rehabilitation
Doylestown, PA.