Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
 Falling
I fell last night. The dewey grass and darkness offered perfect conditions as I took a quick cut to maneuvered my dog, Rosie, through her agility course. Righting myself, I continued. I fell in yoga class not long ago, my elbow slipping off the back of my arm in bakasana, shoulder and cheek hitting the hardwood floor. For me, falling is not uncommon. I'm active. I'm also strong and agile and, most importantly, I'm not 80.
Aging and falling is a bad combo. Studies indicate that 30 to 50 percent of elderly people fear falling more than other anxieties like fear of being robbed or forgetting an appointment or having financial problems. If they haven't fallen, they see their friends or neighbors falling and the resultant consequences.
Older folks are cautioned against the dreaded fall as rugs are removed, walker and canes are offered and grab bars are installed. Pretty soon it's the life alert necklace. But, more insidious than the fall itself is the resultant fear of falling. As one woman put it:
''Yes, you develop an awful fear. You don't know when it's going to happen. It starts affecting you emotionally, mentally and everything else. Eventually you get paranoid. You're afraid to do anything. So I'm living with this terrible fear of walking. If you stay home, you go crazy. If you go out, you're in fear. Where's your life?''
This understandable fear leads to inactivity which leads to physical deterioration which leads to . . . . well, you know.
The statistics are not reassuring. The rate of falls has been dramatically increasing for Americans over 65 with falls being the leading cause of injury-related death. Twenty to forty percent of hip fractures will result in a death within a year. But, it's not only a death that's the issue. It starts a downward spiral of medical problems and for some the end of independent living. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects, anticipate by the year 2020, the annual price tag for care related to falls among seniors will more than double to $43.8 billion.
There are multiple reasons for falls among the elderly, including a rise in diseases that contribute to falling like Parkinson's, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and arthritis. People with poor vision and hearing or other sensory deficiencies such as numbness in the feet are much more likely to topple. Certain medications such as tranquilizers and anti-depressants - especially taken in combination - may promote dizziness and grogginess. Confusion doesn't help.
Experts suggest that one-third of falls are avoidable. In the coming weeks, we'll continue the discussion and see how falls can be prevented [here's a hint: stay strong].
Recycled with some editing.
Want to read some of my past articles?. They're archived right here. Enjoy.
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Hey, Graton Yogis!! By the way, I love you guys......showing up, breathing, moving, creating community and bringing your playful attitude. We will move our Thursday class on Thanksgiving to Wednesday, Nov 25, same time, same place.
Note some stellar changes: Tony Briggs will lengthen his Sunday class to 2(!!!) hours and add a Thursday class at Post Wellness at 9:00.
Mark your Calendars for Saturday, Dec 12 for the Third Annual Yoga Clothing Swap. Grab your yoga and casual wear "outfits" and bring them over to Alive Yoga in Sebastopol to "swap" with your friends. Time and invite is coming.
Thanksgiving Weekend brings more yoga: Tony Briggs will offer a Turkey Day class at Post Wellness. Anne O'Brien will resurrect the Turkey Day +1 on Friday at Post Wellness, Barbara Fitzgerald will teach at Yoga on Center on T-Day.
Thanks, Jenn and Katina!!! Yoga on Center brings Girish back for live music on Saturday, December 19, 5:30 - 7:00. There will be candles, live music, appetizers and wine to celebrate the holiday season.
Eddie Modestini is coming back to Sebastopol. He'll be teaching at Westside Yoga Studio along with a slew of great teachers, including the always remarkable, Mirka Kraftsow.
Iris Lambert and Irie Yoga are offering a 200 Hour Elemental Vinyasa Teacher Training and Absorption in 2016. This Teacher Training will explore the relationship between Ayurveda and Yoga as a lifestyle. As Iris about it!
New Owner Special at YogaOne--Get 10 classes for $100!! Crazy good deal for over 60 classes and 2 locations: Petaluma and Santa Rosa. Thanks, Deacon! Another important opportunity to teachers and serious students. Study anatomy with Judith Lasater at Mt. Madonna. Not just any anatomy, but Experiential Anatomy, billed as the The Most Fun Anatomy Course Ever. I'll be there. More info here.
Know about Yoga in Graton? It's hopping! Find 5 classes a week ranging from Gentle to Slow Flow to All Levels, featuring me, Corina Stoicescu and Denise Hammond. Time and places at YogaInGraton.com. Restorative Yoga..........Thanks to your interest in this important practice, I'm adding a permanent Wednesday class. See below for details!!! My weekly schedule is below (scroll down or click here!). Or, you can always go to my website and click on the always up-to-date calendar to find where I might be.
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 The Adult Nap
Thanks to your interest in this important practice, I'm offering a a Restorative Yoga on Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:45. at Yoga Studio Ganesha on the Square in Sebastopol. Pricing - Buy a 4 class pass for $54 ($13.50/class) or 8 classes for $100 or Drop-In of $16. Yoga in Graton students can use your punch card ($10 per class)!!!
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 Pushing and Pulling
Yoga International is running a 2-part series entitled "Does Traditional Yoga Lead to Muscle Imbalance?". Part 1 is right here. Want a spoiler? Yes, it does. This came to my attention some years ago while studying with Judith Lasater. The push-ups (chaturangas) are using one set of muscles and we do no pull-ups which would work the opposing muscles. In yoga we "push away". Hum? I'm eager to see Part 2 and what is recommended for pull-ups.
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Simple Principles of the Spine
Another informative video by Yoga Instructor Leslie Kaminoff of The Breathing Project. According to Mr. Kaminoff:
"When we examine the tension and compression forces inherent in the structure of our spine, we find a vast system that elegantly returns us to equilibrium - if we let it."
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Schedule of Upcoming Classes
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Class Schedule - Week of November 15, 2015
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Tuesday
5:00 - 6:00
Private, Healdsburg
Wednesday
5:15 - 6:45
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
Restorative Yoga
Thursday
8:45 - 9:45
Graton Community Club
All Levels
5:00 - 6:00 Private, Healdsburg
Saturday
All Levels Flow
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Wednesday
5:15 - 6:45
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
Restorative Yoga
Thursday 8:45 - 9:45
All Levels
5:00 - 6:00
Private, Healdsburg
Saturday
9:00 - 10:30
All Levels Flow
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Graton Yogis Info:
Did you know your class pass (get these from your instructor) are accepted by all yoga teachers at Yoga in Graton?
We Gratonite Yogis have a place to call our own. It's www.
yogaingraton.com. There is information about current and new yoga classes offered in Graton.
Don't live in Graton? No problem. We want you to come anyway.
Quotes I Like
You cannot be lost if you don't care where you are.
Judith Lasater
When people ask me what equipment I use, I tell them my eyes.
Ansel Adams
"Not to have what we want is stressful; to have what we do not want is stressful."
Buddha
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
Dalai Lama
"Everything will be alright in the end. And if it is not alright, it's not yet the end!" The Magnolia Hotel movie
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