This is Not Your Daughter’s Yoga
you think about Yoga, what likely comes to mind is a young slender girl in tight leggings that has twisted herself into some inconceivable position while balancing on one hand. You may think to yourself, “I can barely stand on one leg or bend over to tie my shoes, so how am I going to do that?”
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Nobody wants to be humiliated, or reminded of how great of shape they used to be in. These seem to be a couple of the reasons why people don’t try yoga. It seems foreign, inaccessible and requires a certain amount of flexibility and dexterity that most of us simply do not have. At least, that is what we are led to believe. What if I told you that most yoga students in the Northeast are between ages 35 and 54? What if I said that about 20% of yoga practitioners are over the age of 55 and that this demographic is rapid- growing? The truth is that most of the people in the
veryone knows yoga is good for you. Chiro- practors and doctors recommend it to lower blood pressure and improve health. But when
teaches us to be patient, forgiving, loving and kind. It reduces pain and relieves stress, naturally enhances our mood and improves the way we move throughout the day. Life is stressful. This is unlikely to change. But we can get stron- ger and more balanced so that we can better adapt to the demands of daily living. Is rolling around on the floor contorting in tight leg- gings going to do that? Probably not. But setting aside time for yourself to decompress naturally and relieve accumu- lated tension in your body so you can breathe will. The point is you should not be intimidated by
ly yoga class
you are thinking about trying are normal people just like you. They are mothers and fathers, employees and business owners, and their bodies’ creak when they get out of bed in the morning. When you see images in the media of half naked women or men doing Cirque du Soleil poses, they are representing the excep- tion. Wipe those hyper flexible yogi stereotypes from your mind. Reality check: When you start out in yoga, everyone is as stiff as a board. You don’t just magically become flexible! It is a progression as you become more in tune with your body and your flexibility and strength increase. And it will increase just after you take that first step.
Could the ability to put your leg behind your head improve the
way you live? Will balancing on your head bring you happiness and fulfillment? Centuries old texts describe yoga as a way to integrate the body and mind to relieve suffering, which from a yogic perspec- tive is caused by “monkey mind.” So what does this have to do with being able to do 108 pushups in a room heated to 100 degrees? Absolutely nothing. How much does your pain and lack of energy affect your work, family and social life? Real yoga is about feeling better, living a life free from pain and enjoying the things and people we love. Yoga
everyday stress. know you, your
limitations you may flexibility here and
better. In fact, you may
yoga. After all, we are doing yoga poses all day long: sitting, standing, and bending. Yoga trains our bodies to do those things better and without pain. It is true, however, that you should choose your yoga classes wisely. At CT Yoga Center we begin with breath- ing and then slowly work on introducing your body to the poses. You will learn simple tools that you can use in your life that decrease Each teacher will take the time to get to reasons for coming and any physical be experiencing. You will gain a bit of there and immediately you will feel feel so much better that life doesn’t seem
as stressful. Tasks that used to be exhausting are met with newfound ease and energy. You will find clarity and focus that at times may be ninja like as you move through the day choosing wisely what you will focus your attention on. You might even make new friends. And if you really must learn pretzel poses and headstands we can teach you how to safely do that too. The truth is we age, the body starts to wear and tear. Joints will stiffen up. Muscles will get tight. We get tired and overwhelmed. Starting yoga as soon as possible is an easy way to fight the ravages of time. The key is to just start. Those intimidatingly fit people had to begin somewhere. Start where you are. You belong here.
Erika Halford is a normal non- contortionist person, mother, wife, Yoga instructor and massage therapist. She recently opened CT Yoga Center to bring yoga to those who think they can’t and to inspire people of all ages and ability levels to move how they want to live. You can reach her by visiting
www.CTyogacenter.com. See ad on page 17.
Find Peace in The Middle of it All Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program
An 8 week experiential program that incorporates practical, scientifically supported teachings proven to reduce stress, promote physical health, and cultivate emotional well-being.
Sept 4th – Oct 30th Tuesdays, 6.30pm – 9.00p.m Locations: Redding, CT and Pleasantville, NY
Information at
www.Mindful-Spirit.com or call Alisha at (917) 972-7291
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