Ruth Dearduff has always been active, but it was a quest for better balance that brought her to the practice of yoga.

The 93-year-old started practicing yoga daily at the Lotus Tea Room and Studio a year ago and has rarely missed a class.

“A lot of it I can’t do, but I keep practicing at home,” Dearduff said. “Maybe I’m getting a little better. These ladies, they encourage me by telling me how good I am. The encouragement from them has kept me going.”

Dearduff said she saw an advertisement for “yoga for balance” that piqued her interest, and she called and signed up for a class.

“She’s fantastic,” said Maria McGee, owner of the studio. “She signed up by the phone because she thought I would turn her down. You can do yoga at any age.”

All she wanted was help with her balance after having surgery on both knees, Dearduff said.

After a while, McGee said that Dearduff started to see that as her strength improved, so did her balance.

“She’s very dedicated, we just love her,” McGee said.

McGee said she has stayed active throughout her life, walking and exercising at home, but that the surgeries made this more difficult. Yoga, paired with physical therapy and other exercises, has helped improve both her strength and balance.

“I think yoga has done as much for me as any of the other exercises,” Dearduff said. “It has really helped me. I can’t stand on one leg yet, but I’m working on it.”

A main concern for Dearduff is fall prevention. She experienced two serious falls in her 80s that resulted in long-term damage to her mobility.

“I really don’t want to fall,” Dearduff said. “I’m not kidding myself to think I’m going to get over anything. I’m just trying to do things to make me better. It’s a harder life than when you’re young.”

Despite her challenges, Dearduff said she still enjoys life, runs her household with her husband, Vernie, fixes three meals a day, and attends her daily yoga classes.

Fellow class member Lenny Zimmer sets up and puts away Dearduff’s yoga mat and supplies for each class.

“He’s my savior,” Dear-duff said. “He’s always so faithful.”

Zimmer said that Dearduff is an inspiration to her fellow yogis.

“I think she’s the reason several of us come,” Zimmer said. “We’ll say to ourselves, “If Ruth can do it …”

Dearduff said she plans to continue the classes both because of the physical benefits and the camaraderie and support.

“I’ll just keep doing it,” Dearduff said. “I like it, I like the people, I like the encouragement.”