Balance and Flow Yoga with Shelley Prosko

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for older adults in North America, and worldwide the loss and suffering caused by falls is extensive. Those in their peri- and postmenopausal years are particularly at risk of falls and related injuries. Fortunately, yoga shows promise to improve a variety of fall risk factors and to reduce injury when falls are unavoidable, particularly if the practices, delivery, guidance, and cueing are suitable. In this 7 part series, you’ll be guided through the key yoga practices and principles used in the Balance Flow Yoga intervention that she co-developed for a recent study evaluating the effect of yoga on fall risk factors and injury risk. Other injury and fall risk factors include: pelvic floor function upper body mobility strength (upper and lower extremities) landing capacity balance confidence core strategy and timing (includes how we breathe!) About Shelley: Shelly is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, educator, author and pioneer of PhysioYoga with over 25 years of experience integrating yoga into physiotherapy within a variety of specialty areas such as pelvic health, chronic pain, professional burnout and overall health and well-being promotion and creation. She co-developed the Balance Flow Yoga intervention for research at the School of Rehabilitation Science, at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Shelly teaches at several yoga, yoga therapy and physiotherapy schools, presents at yoga and medical conferences globally, contributes to academic research and writing, provides resources for the general population, and offers continuing education courses and mentorship for yoga and healthcare professionals. She considers herself a lifelong student and emphasizes the immense value gained from clinical experience and learning from the patients she serves, the professionals she teaches, and the colleagues with which she collaborates.