One of the best gifts I’ve gotten was season tickets to one of the nations top collegiate gymnastics teams. As an alumni of the sport, I was excited to watch the young athletes perform skills that I once attempted myself and to see how different the sport has changed in the past decade. The meet was amazing. There were so many new skills, so much higher difficulty and so much more talent than I ever remember having. As I watched I longed for the chance to do what these girls were doing, just once more, but I knew it was a far fetched dream. You see, I have gotten “old” in the eyes of gymnastics. My body does not work the same as it use to (especially after children), and I would pretty much kill or heavily injure myself if I attempted the sport at the same intensity as the gymnasts I watched. 

I know most of us aren’t planning on joining an adult gymnastics class, but pretty much every physical activity we participate in could lead to injury. As we age, our chances of getting hurt increase every year, so in yoga we work to combat that. In all yoga poses you should focus on the core of your body. Always think about keeping your core (the section of your body between your head and your pelvis) strong and pulled up. There are a few great poses for working your core strength that are excellent for helping to prevent injuries. My favorite three are: 1. Boat pose. This is a great way to work stomach, hip flexors, neck and back strength all at once. Try to hold boat for about 10 counts at a time and repeat about 5 times. If you do this daily, you will definitely see an increase in core strength. 2. Bridge. A great counter pose to do between boat that still works your back, buttocks, and legs. It helps to release tension in the upper back and neck and teaches your body control of your core muscles. 3. Down Dog. A basic yoga pose, but very beneficial. This stretches your lower back and hamstrings while strengthening your shoulders and stomach.

Remember to keep your body’s core active through your entire practice and know that the more you strengthen this area, the less chance you have of injury.