An accident waiting to happen?
With the horses tacked and in the trailer, we left the house at 5 AM a few mornings ago to help one of the neighbors gather cattle. It was like a dance on the county road as the goose-necked stock trailers converged from the north, south, and east in an unexpected caravan to the morning’s meeting point. One plus was that we were the middle trailer, and I didn’t have to open or close any of the gates! As we arrived, everyone got of their trucks for the daybreak greetings, handshakes, and a few hugs along with some introductions while breakfast sausage croissants were distributed to those who wanted breakfast.
Then, as I was walking back to the truck to put on another layer, I tripped over a rock and fell. It was not only ugly and embarrassing; it had the potential to be disastrous. Of course, I bounced right up, pretending that I was not hurt, looking at the bright side, because it was much better than falling off my horse, and I didn’t break any bones. But why did I fall? Age? Not paying attention? Clumsy? Tired? Careless? Lack of mindfulness? Not picking up my feet? Not watching where I was walking? Probably a combination of factors, if I were to guess.
Falls are a public health concern because they result in increased mortality and morbidity among older adults. Falls can lead to devastating health consequences including injuries, hospitalizations, or ER visits. Unintentional falls have been identified as the fifth leading cause of death among older adults. I don’t want to frighten my readers, but could my fall have been prevented? Yes.
Ironically, I had just taken a zoom class with one of my favorite yin yoga teachers Bernie Clark a week prior, and part of the practice was a variety of balance poses. Bernie stated that there are three things that affect our balance: sight, inner ear, and proprioception. Proprioception is knowing where your body is in space. I had even taught and practiced more balance poses in my yoga therapy classes three days prior to my fall. While I did practice my balance, it was my lack of awareness and not being mindful that most likely contributed to my ugly faceplant fall.
I cannot stress enough how important it is as we age to practice our balance and be mindful of where our body is in space. Try to balance on just one leg when you are standing at the sink washing dishes or in the bathroom while you are brushing your teeth. Most importantly, when you start practicing your balance, rest your hand or fingertips lightly on the counter or on a wall to ensure you do not fall. Start from where you are, practice to see if your balance improves over time. If all goes well, try more difficult balance poses such as standing with one foot right behind the other foot as if you are walking a tightrope, and try closing your eyes to determine if you are feeling really balanced.
If want to improve your horseback riding skills, I can tell you that practicing balance poses and breathwork did more for my riding abilities than all the fancy trainers I had growing up east of the Mississippi. I think these things can contribute to your athletic prowess too.
Since my fall, I have committed to a daily mindful walking meditation for at least 10 minutes for the next month. Have you tried a mindful walking meditation? The practice of mindful walking, says teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, is “a profound and pleasurable way to deepen our connection with our body and the earth.” No doubt I need to be more present while I am walking. A walking meditation should not be work but a practice to bring body and mind together peacefully. It is the opportunity to appreciate the here and now and avoid being on autopilot as I was the other morning. I know that being intensely aware of what I am sensing and feeling will bring more awareness to this everyday activity.
Final lesson: Fall asleep, fall in love, but don’t fall down. At least there are ways to get around the last. Feel free to share your thoughts with me: ashton@ashtoncannon.com
Ashton Graham is an educator, book publisher, photographer, cowgirl and yoga teacher. She is currently studying to become a yoga therapist and lives on a ranch in West Texas. Visit www.ashtoncannon.com to learn more.
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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: An accident waiting to happen?
