Why do the Yoga?
If I were to name the one exercise format that 40+ clients fear most I would say it is YOGA. Most of my clients would prefer doing a burpee than starting yoga. The word alone seems to conjure up images of scantily clad young women standing on one leg. The average person fears walking into a class. Listen closely: yoga is an indispensable tool that you need in your aging strong toolbox!
Let’s face it, the older we are the longer it takes to get all the engines firing. Aging is associated with changes in elasticity resulting in a decrease in flexibility and range of motion (like bringing your knee towards you chest). The movements you perform in yoga should focus on your form and assist in preserving or restoring your flexibility and balance. Don’t let the word YOGA scare you. Learning a safe, beginner flow and practicing it as part of your warm-up or as a daily ritual will keep you limber and confident. It can even help reverse age related fibrosis and prevent falls as you age. Find a trainer and treat yourself to a couple of private yoga sessions and get started. Who knows, maybe you will even warm up to the idea of marrying your breath to your practice and discover the meditative benefits of yoga as well!
The large majority of people come to yoga for stress relief, health and physical fitness, but the truth is two-thirds of yoga students have a change of heart regarding why they do yoga and soon find themselves drawn to its spirituality. I can speak to this personally. Like many cardio junkies I found myself loving hot yoga leaving class drenched and exhausted. Months into my practice I started actually hearing the teachers cues to BREATHE and discovered the dance between my asana (fancy word for yoga pose) and breath. I found peace and started to reflect on life and my path…self-actualization. Simple right? That is how yoga gets you. You just have to stick to it.
I wont highlight the myriad of studies about yoga but trust me they are there and show that yoga helps with everything from depression (hello 2020), cholesterol, protecting the brain from decline in grey matter…the list goes on. The point is you need to take one step and start your yoga journey.