I am not the kind of woman that enjoys lifting weights at the gym. It's simply not my thing. 

But, lifting my body into the air using just my core and upper body strength in an arm balance pose or and inversion? That is where it's at. 

And, every day as I wake up diving deeper into my late 40s, I know that working through yoga poses that require me to put my hands on the ground to support my body is not just great for mind or my spiritual connection... it's great for my bone health. 

Here are 8 reasons why advancing your yoga practice as you age can help you defend against osteopenia and osteoporosis: 

1. When your yoga practice incorporates weight bearing postures, such as Crow Pose, Downward Facing Dog, and Planks or Handstand training, you are stimulating bone growth by putting stress on your bones. These types of yoga poses require your body to work against gravity... which makes your bones strong. 

2. Advancing your yoga practice helps you build strong muscles. Just ask any of my students. After a few months of regular practice you can see the definition in their arms and core. Stronger muscles exert more force on your bones and encourages them to become denser. Yoga poses like Wheel Pose and Birds of Paradise Pose engage large muscle groups that support your bones, particularly in your hips and spine. 

3. Yoga improves your balance. Balanced-focused poses, such as Big Toe Hold Pose or Standing Bow Pulling Pose enhance your stability. Better balance helps you prevent injury, a key component to bone health, especially as we age. 

4. Yoga - no matter what level class you are working through - provides the benefits of strength training without a lot of wear and tear on your joints. Yoga is less likely to cause joint issues than activities that require running or jumping. 

5. It improves your overall standing and sitting posture. Yoga poses, such as Cobra Pose, Upward Facing Dog, and Bow Pose help to strengthen the muscles that line your spine. This helps you maintain your height and confident stance, reducing the risk of low back injury or kyphosis of the spine (rounded shoulders). 

6. Yoga stimulates your bone growth. When your muscles contract during a yoga pose, they pull on your bones, which stimulates bone-forming cells, also known as osteoblasts. This encourages your bones to grow denser overtime, particularly in areas prone to thinning such as the hips, spine and wrists. 

7. Anyone that's taken a handful of yoga classes will tell you that yoga increases circulation. Hands and feet that are chronically cold, start to feel warmer. And, as you leave your yoga mat, you have blushed cheeks, also known as your "yoga glow." This improved circulation ensures that more oxygen and nutrients are received by your bones, aiding in bone maintenance and growth. 

8. Yoga is also known to balance your hormones. This is key for women past the age of 40 that may be experiencing perimenopause or menopause, when the drop in estrogen can contribute to bone loss. 

Isn't this cool? Don't you want to roll out your yoga mat right now? 

I know looking into the 'why' of yoga has helped me keep going again and again. 

It is more than just exercise, though it does give you a good amount of that. It is overall maintenance for your body, your mind, and your connection to all of life. 

I hope this serves you well today! 

Big Hugs, 

Tori ♡