If you have low vision, you may experience neck pain from straining to see or muscle tension from walking cautiously or feeling the anxiety associated with fear of colliding with an object in your path. In addition, you may experience falls because of difficulty seeing or because diminished vision affects the vestibular system’s role in maintaining balance. Yoga can help address any or all of these issues.
Yoga helps relax muscle tension, increase flexibility, and improve balance. It can also increase strength and promote bone health. Anyone can experience these benefits through a practice suited to their age as well as their current level of mobility, flexibility, and strength. In fact, a good yoga teacher will help each individual use aids, such as blocks, blankets, straps, and chairs, to adapt poses to their needs and skill level.
If you have low vision and want to take a yoga class, look for one for people with vision impairments, or ask your teacher to give more detailed verbal instructions for how to enter poses. You may also find some videos helpful. If you live in the Fort Collins, Colorado, area, join us at Ensight for chair yoga starting September 12, 2017 at 1:30 pm. We will provide adaptations to make your experience successful and fun. Call Lynda at Ensight for more information or to sign up!