Effective physical activity for the oldest-old by Marilynn Larkin, MA

On any given day, Tony Martin, 97, might be among the Hollywood personalities doing yoga under the guidance of Yuriko Byers, a personal yoga trainer from Malibu, California. Although Martin is a relatively new client, Byers worked with his wife, Cyd Charisse (who died in 2008), for many years. In a career spanning close to 40 years, Byers has learned that celebrities are no different from others when it comes to doing yoga: They may need some prodding and encouragement, but they appreciate the benefits, which include stress reduction and the ability to center themselves, as well as function better.