There is a quote attributed to Charles Darwin that states “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
The same can be said about the human body. Whenever we think of better aging, we often focus on strength, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness and diet as means of lasting longer.
However, the World Health Organization and recent research have argued for a more integrative systems approach of looking at a person’s capacity to adapt to disruptions.
This capacity for adaptation is the true foundation of yoga for longevity.
What does Adaptability Mean in the Human Body?
Simply stated, adaptability is the ability to respond to change. This change could affect multiple systems including neurological, physiological, sensorimotor, and cognitive, to name a few.
We adapt everyday when we walk on uneven surfaces, learn new skills, recover from an injury, or simply adjust to different demands placed on the body.
At its core, adaptability is the body’s ability to gather information, interpret it, and respond to it appropriately.
Your Nervous System is Built for Adaptation
The brain is constantly assessing information received through the various systems of the body and making predictions on the outcome of this information. Challenging these predictions, or doing things out of the norm for us, is how we adapt and grow.
It’s based on the principle of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections in response to experience and learning.
Neuroplasticity allows us to develop new movement patterns, refine coordination, improve balance, and recover function after an injury. It is also what makes yoga for longevity more than just exercise.
Why Repetition Alone Isn’t Enough
Many exercise regimens focus on repetition of movement, which can be important in the early stages of rehabilitation or learning. But real life is rarely if ever predictable. So while repetition can build efficiency, movement variation builds adaptability.
At one point in time, variation of movement was seen as an error in movement patterning. However, there is mounting evidence of the importance of variability in normal movement, as it provides flexible and adaptive strategies for changing conditions.
Reduced variability in movement is known to cause repetitive stress injuries. Therefore, health is indicated by a dynamic equilibrium and not a static state.
Adaptability and Aging
One of the hallmarks of aging is the body becoming less capable of responding to the stressors placed upon it. Classic examples include difficulty recovering from a stumble, regaining strength after an illness, or simply maintaining balance with the eyes closed.
Falls have been shown to be a predictor of mortality, particularly in the elderly. Frequent fallers face a risk of death that is up to three to four times higher than people who don’t fall.
Therefore, the goal of movement training and yoga for longevity shouldn’t just be to get stronger or more flexible, but to preserve our ability to adapt to unforeseen challenges.
Train Adaptability, Not Just Fitness
How do we train adaptability? It’s fairly simple. We introduce novelty. This is where movement becomes more than just exercise.
Some of the best ways to train adaptability include (but are not limited to):
- Moving in a variety of planes
- Changing speed of movement
- Challenging balance
- Learning new movement patterns
- Being okay with being confused by the unfamiliar
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? This is LYT.
Why This Matters Beyond the Mat
Challenges show up everywhere. Being adaptable on the mat translates to better adaptability off the mat.
The moves we do on our mat reflect the ability of our current and future selves to get on the floor with our grandchildren, recover from catching our toe on an uneven piece of pavement, and continue playing pickleball and golf!
Longevity is about more than adding years to one’s life. It’s about how we’re able to live with them. Yoga for longevity builds the body that can do both.
Build a Body that Can Respond
The strongest and most flexible body isn’t always the one that lasts. The body that lasts is the body that can respond and adapt.
So every time you get on your mat for a LYT class and find yourself getting a little behind the teacher or confused by the movements, know that you’re investing in long-term resilience.
Yoga for longevity is not found in perfect form. It is found in the moments where your nervous system is asked to figure something out, and does.
