Get up without help even at the age of 80 - and how yoga can help make that possible

When it comes to measuring how healthy we are and to determine our life expectancy, tests such as the EKG stress test, or treadmill test, is often the best choice for doctors. What if we could test our fitness in a simple, efficient  way from the comfort of our own home?  

Unfortunately, it's not that easy to achieve such comprehensive results as you would get through a doctor's examination. That being said, there is a simple test that can be carried out at home, without any medical knowledge or equipment that can help you to gain some basic understanding of your own range of motion and strength. This is an especially interesting option for people between the ages of 51 and 80.  It is also a fun little challenge for any yogi looking to test their limitations and to improve their strength and mobility. 

Patients between the ages of 51 and 80 were asked to sit down on the ground from an upright position and to get up again. They should have as little support as possible. Each of these two movements (i.e. getting up and sitting down) are valued with a maximum of 5 points when they are completed. The result is an ideal 10. It seems easy to do, but it is actually much easier to lose points than you might think. For example, 1 point is deducted for each use of support (i.e. hand or knee). If the person is generally unstable, 0.5 points are deducted.  

When you practice yoga regularly, you are working on your posture, your ability to maintain equilibrium and you build both strength and flexibility. Even from the very beginning of our practice and in the most basic of the fundamental postures, these elements are being practiced. In the case of Padangusthasana and Padahasthasana we lengthen the leg and lower back muscles. When we practice Utthita Parsavakonasana, we are strengthening the thigh muscles, knees and ankles. 

Our orientation in space and as we move through space even helps us in everyday life with common tasks such as tying our shoes, bending over or even reaching over and picking up the remote control from under the coffee table. This agility is exactly what the test is intended to measure: the coordination of flexibility and strength in movement. On the other hand, the test cannot offer us any information about cardiovascular capacity. There were some patients in the study who despite their low SRT test scores according to Dr. Claudio Gil Araújo's metrics, were able to bike to work and appeared to be strong and healthy. 

So will we live longer if we practice yoga daily and maintain a high SRT score? The test is too rudimentary to really tell, as there are so many different factors that come into play. Even so, the study shows us how important maintaining our strength and flexibility as we enter our senior years really is, in particular, how we can avoid a serious injury through a  fall. What better way can you think of as using a moving meditation as a preventative measure? How beautiful is it that such a practice can not only strengthen our bodies but also brings us to inner balance? 

Has your curiosity been piqued? Go ahead and give it a try and see how you do! The best way to work in in pairs, and make sure that you are in a room with ample space, just in case you lose your balance.