Hey ,

Happy Wednesday!

, how's your balance these days? 

Any recent slips or falls?

Last week, I slipped on a patch of ice in Muskoseepee Park, scraped my knee, and ripped my new pants. The ironic part? I had just started incorporating balance-specific exercises into my routine the week before. 

Clearly, there is always room for improvement!

Today, we will delve into the fascinating world of proprioception, a nearly-forgotten 'sixth sense' that holds the key to our sense of balance, nervous system fatigue, muscle loss, and even age-related cognitive decline.

Balance Experiment: 

Let's kick off our exploration with a hands-on experiment that you can do right now in the comfort of your home:

• Find a slightly unstable surface: a thick folded blanket, a cushion or a pillow, a yoga bolster, or a balance board if you are feeling adventurous.
   
• Carefully step on this unstable surface with both feet.
   
• Relax and breathe until you gain a sense of balance.
   
• Now, close your eyes. Stay for a minute or so if you can.
   

Did closing your eyes make you feel less stable?

Were you able to keep your eyes closed and stay on your bolster or blanket? Did you get tense all over?

What Is Proprioception:

Google the word "proprioception," and a formal definition will tell you that proprioception, often called the "sixth sense," is the body's ability to perceive its position and movement in space without relying on visual cues. This sense is critical for maintaining balance, coordination, and posture.

Why Proprioception is Important:

• Balance and Coordination: Proprioception enables smooth and controlled movements by allowing the body to instantly adjust to changes. It helps maintain balance during activities like walking or standing on uneven surfaces.

• Injury Prevention: Enhanced body awareness reduces the risk of injuries by improving joint stability and reaction times. For example, proprioceptive training has decreased ankle sprains in athletes.

• Posture and Body Mechanics: Good proprioceptive ensures optimal posture by aligning the spine and engaging the correct muscles during daily activities, reducing musculoskeletal imbalances.

What Happens When We Lose Proprioception:

• Decline in Balance: Loss or proprioception results in slower reaction times, increased sway during standing, and a higher risk of falls.

• Functional Limitations: Impaired proprioception can lead to dysfunctional joint mechanics, which may contribute to degenerative joint diseases over time.

• Increased Risk of Falls: As proprioception declines, we become more dependent on vision for balance, making us more vulnerable to falls in unfamiliar or challenging postural situations.

• The loss of proprioception has also been linked to sarcopenia - age-related muscle loss, central nervous system fatigue, as well as cognitive decline - and, more specifically, Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

In the coming weeks, we will closely examine these connections and explore the topic of proprioception in greater detail to understand what is happening and what actions we can take.

In the meantime, Spring Yoga Session registrations are now open for all currently registered students. General Early Bird registrations will start next week. Hooray for spring!

With gratitude,