What Causes Falling
By: Mindy Eisenberg, MHSA, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 with Bettyanne Hodges, Director of Marketing, YMMS
Falling is something we all try to avoid. But as we get older or face health challenges, it can become a serious risk. There are ways to reduce the risk, and one powerful tool is yoga!
What causes falls—and how can yoga help people feel more steady, strong, and confident? Falling doesn’t just “happen.” There are many reasons why a person might lose their balance or trip. Here are some common causes:
1. Weak Muscles: As we age or face illness, our muscles can lose strength. That makes it harder to stay upright, especially when standing, walking, or turning.
2. Poor Balance: Balance is the body’s ability to stay centered and stable. Conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, or even lack of exercise can affect balance over time.
3. Trouble Walking: Changes in the way we walk can make us more likely to stumble. This might be caused by joint pain, nerve damage, or neuromuscular conditions.
4. Vision Problems: Eyes help us stay balanced by showing us where we are in space. If your vision is blurry or limited, it’s easier to misstep or trip.
5. Certain Medications: Some medicines can cause dizziness, fatigue, or low blood pressure. That can throw off your balance without warning.
6. Fear of Falling: Fear can make falling more likely. People who are afraid to fall may move too carefully or stop being active—weakening their muscles.
Yoga is not just for young or flexible people. In fact, adaptive yoga is designed for people with all kinds of bodies and abilities. How can yoga lower the risk of falling:
1. Builds Strength: Yoga uses your own body to make muscles stronger. Even small movements—like lifting your leg in a chair or standing in a supported pose—can help.
2. Improves Balance: Practicing yoga helps your body learn how to stay steady. Movements that shift your weight, challenge your posture, or focus on the breath improve balance over time.
3. Boosts Flexibility: Tight muscles and stiff joints make it harder to move safely. Yoga gently stretches the body, helping you bend, twist, and reach with more ease.
4. Teaches Body Awareness: Yoga helps people listen to their bodies. You become more aware of how you move and where you are in space. That makes you more mindful—and less likely to trip or slip.
5. Reduces Fear: Yoga also works on the mind. Breathing exercises and meditation help calm anxiety, which can reduce the fear of falling. Feeling more confident makes you move with more security!
Yoga Moves Any Body is all about making yoga work for you. Whether you sit in a chair, use props, or move with support, yoga can meet you where you are. It’s not about doing the perfect pose—it’s about feeling better in your body. For people with neurological conditions, limited mobility, or who are just feeling unsteady, adaptive yoga offers real tools for strength, steadiness, and peace of mind. Yoga is more than stretching—it’s a path back to balance.
Want to start improving balance today? Check out our On Demand Library!
To learn more about Mindy Eisenberg, Director of Yoga Moves MS and Bettyanne Hodges, Director of Marketing, or to learn more about our specialized classes for students with MS, Parkinson’s Disease, and related conditions go to Yoga Moves Any Body Website
To order Mindy’s book or adaptive yoga cards Adaptive Yoga Moves Any Body and Adaptive Yoga Cards. (Click the link to order).
