Balance is important especially as we age My mother fell all the time in her late eighties and early nineties. She wouldn't use a cane either. Or if she took a cane with her, she'd wear the handle on her wrist like a bracelet. At first she did little damage, but her last fall resulted in a broken hip. She died a year and a half later at the age of 94. The fear of falling, which becomes more pronounced as we age, is very real. It's not only undignified, it can cause serious fractures and internal injuries.  Therefore, our body's ability to right itself and regain control against gravity depends on our muscles' abilities to bring us back to the proper center of gravity. If you combine weak muscles with a lack of balancing practice, you have a perfect prescription for injury. The opposite of this equation is equally true. Practicing balancing poses and developing strong muscles that can pull you back to center after a stumble, misstep or accidental push. It can mean the difference … [Read more...]