Do you find yourself struggling to stay grounded on one leg? Just a couple weekly yoga classes may help improve your balance and motor learning skills, according to a new study published in the September 2020 issue of Experimental Gerontology. The researchers found that subjects who had completed two weekly 90-minute yoga sessions had a faster reaction time than those who didn't complete the sessions.
The 10-week study looked at the impact of yoga on cognition, motor learning, and balance in older adults, in their 60s and 70s. Researchers noted changes in the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the yoga group, which they associated with improved balance and motor learning. BDNF serves as a crucial protein in the brain, stimulating the production of healthy neurons.