Doctors in Philadelphia have found another reason to appreciate yoga. Last week, podiatrist Dr. Jinsup Song of Temple University spoke with Reuters News about his study on the effects of yoga in elderly women. Song’s research found that after practicing yoga regularly for nine weeks, the women’s walking, posture and balance were measurably improved. The elderly women could stand for longer amounts of time on one leg, walk more quickly and make longer strides. Dr. Song attributes the changes to increased muscle strength and flexibility learned in the yoga sessions. Overall, the women gained an average of a centimeter in height. Dr. Song and his colleagues believe that yoga may be a useful method to increase walking strength in older patients and consequently prevent falling injuries, the cause of most elderly disabilities.

Dr. Song worked alongside yoga specialists to create a program tailored to the needs and abilities of older participants. Yoga instructors offer helpful assistance in designing workouts for specific individual body types.