If you’re sick of people telling you it’s time to start a regular yoga practice, you have two choices: You can sit this one out or, if you’re more malleable, listen up. Because in addition to doing wonders for your flexibility, stress levels, muscle tone (and, yes, your rear view), yoga has been shown in new research to improve both balance and confidence—two things most of us could use a little more of.
Stroke survivors who completed an eight-week course of twice-weekly yoga classes showed an impressive 15% increase on balance scores, according to study author Arlene Schmid, PhD, a rehabilitation research scientist at the Roudebush VA Medical Center and assistant professor at Indiana University. They were also more confident in their ability to perform everyday tasks, too.
How does yoga do this? “Yoga improves balance because it’s complex—it includes the mind and the body, and helps to coordinate movements,” says Schmid. Simple strengthening exercises, on the other hand, usually just work on one plane of movement, she says. (Need more convincing to give yoga a try? Check out 10 Yoga Poses For Health Problems.)
And better balance isn’t just for stroke victims. “Being balanced helps you stay centered,” says Naomi Judith, a yoga instructor the creator of the DVDGentle Yoga with Naomi. “Better balance can help you improve your fitness level—you’ll prevent falls and injuries, and improve focus and concentration.”
Here are three simple poses Judith recommends to help improve balance:
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