Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 Feb 27;2(1):107.
doi: 10.4172/2157-7595.1000107.

Yoga Empowers Seniors Study (YESS): Design and Asana Series

Gail A Greendale  1 , Leslie Kazadi, Sheila Mazdyasni, Emmanuel Ramirez, Man-Ying Wang, Sean S-Y Yu, George Salem
Affiliations

Yoga Empowers Seniors Study (YESS): Design and Asana Series

Gail A Greendale et al. J Yoga Phys Ther. .

Abstract

The practice of yoga asanas (postures) may be an optimal method of preserving or enhancing physical function in older men and women. However, the physical demands, efficacy and safety of an asana practice for seniors have not been well studied. The Yoga Empowers Seniors Study (YESS) is an intervention development study that created two senior-adapted series of asanas targeted for an ambulatory older population. YESS is using biomechanics and physical performance tests to acquire information about the physical demands placed on the muscles and joints by the asanas and the functional performance adaptations resulting from the yoga practice. This manuscript details the standardized, senior-adapted, YESS asana series and the additional asana modifications provided when participants had physical limitations. This presentation will enable the yoga research and teaching communities to interpret the biomechanics, physical performance and side effects outcomes of YESS.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Geriatrics; Physical performance; Yoga.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Yoga Empowers Seniors Study (YESS) Design.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Tummers N, Hendrick F. older adults say yes to yoga. National Recreation and Park Association; 2006.
    1. Young at Heart – Tips for Older adults. National Institutes of Health; 2002.
    1. Chodzko-Zajko WJ, Proctor DN, Fiatarone Singh MA, Minson CT, Nigg CR, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41:1510–1530. - PubMed
    1. Greendale GA, Huang MH, Karlamangla AS, Seeger L, Crawford S. Yoga decreases kyphosis in senior women and men with adult-onset hyperkyphosis: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009;57:1569–1579. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Macrae PG, Lacourse M, Moldavon R. Physical Performance-Measures That Predict Faller Status in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1992;16:123–128. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources