Yoga for Seniors

Yoga for Seniors

The overall purpose of this study is to deliver a 12-week yoga program to older adults (over 60 years of age) in rural WI who do not have access to yoga programming and examine the effects of the programming on activities of daily living, gait, balance, falls, activity level and social isolation.

Participants will be assigned to immediately begin a 12-week yoga class (2 classes per week for 75 minutes each) or complete a 12-week wait (wait-list control). The measures of interest will be examined at pretest (wait-list only), baseline, posttest and at 3-month follow-up to see what, if any, changes are maintained after completion of the program. All assessment data collections sessions will be conducted on-site at a predetermined site identified by the community partners.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ability to independently ambulate for at least 10 minutes continuously (with or without an assistive device)
• Ability to attend the yoga class for all or most of the 12 weeks
• A previous fall, near-fall or identified fear of falling

Exclusion Criteria:

• No known contraindication for exercise (i.e. a medical doctor has told you not to exercise)
• A resent injury that causes pain during movement
• Current enrollment in another research study or class focused on balance