For the past 25 years, she has attended Iyengar Yoga classes twice a week.

In the biggest clinical trial investigating the effects of yoga on falls, researchers found that while yoga improved self-confidence and mobility, older people who practised yoga experienced a significantly higher incidence of falls.

An unexpected result

Half of the cohort did Iyengar yoga, while the other half did seated breathing and stretching. Researchers then tracked the number of falls experienced by both groups over the course of that year.

There were limitations to the study, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the classes online. Source: Supplied / Sue-Ellen Kohler

Anne Tiedemann, lead researcher and professor of physical activity and health at The University of Sydney, said the results were “the opposite of what we expected”.

“People might not have pushed themselves as far as they would if they had an instructor in the room,” Tiedemann said.

Yoga can’t ‘prevent falls forever’

“I love working with seniors. When they come to a class, they really take it on and I’m surprised by how well they adapt,” she said.

Jean Leow teaches Iyengar classes customised for the needs of her senior students. Source: Supplied / Jean Leow

Leow said that while she appreciated the study looked at the effects of yoga over a whole year, rather than just a few weeks, she stressed it’s up to the instructor to ensure the classes are tailored to the needs and abilities of each student if they want to see the benefits.

“For my own students, some of them are avid travellers, some are gardeners. How do they recover from the things they love doing and protect their bodies enough to sustain their lifestyle?”

Preventing falls

Every day, 14 Australians aged 65 and over will die from a fall, according to the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre at Neuroscience Research Australia. A further 364 people will be hospitalised due to a fall each day.