Do Yoga at Home: Your Age is no Barrier to your Practice!

New book!  Available at www.Amazon.com

 

"There's no age at which a person cannot help himself." ~ Ageless Yoga by Rosie Reichmann.

I just love the above statement that appears in Rosie Reichmann's book, Ageless Yoga.  Rosie wrote her yoga book at age 80!  She shows many photos of herself doing a variety of yoga poses.  Her book which I read about 3 years ago inspired me so much.  At age 80, her upbeat attitude about living life to the fullest regardless of how many years have passed reminded me that I have no excuses for not staying active.  And, of course, yoga is one of the practices she was doing (at the time of the book's publication, about a decade ago) to maximize her well-being and enjoyment of life.

Regarding age and the passage of years, it's fun to celebrate birthdays because we're celebrating another year of life we've enjoyed. However, if your focus is on gees, how much time you have left or if you expect certain limiting conditions to pop up because the years are passing by, STOP! Age is  "Nothing But a Number," as the headline of a recent Washington Express article (May 24, 2011) read,in referring to exercise queen, Kathy Smith turning 60 this year.  I am not too many years away from that number either.  BUT, as Kathy Smith believes, there's no reason you have to seem anything like a senior citizen just because of your chronological age.  In all candor, I really do still FEEL 25 (can't say I look 25, alas, but you can't have everything!) which I attribute to my healthy eating, yoga, and aerobic exercise.

Just like Kathy,  I also am fiercely adamant in the view that "number of candles on your birthday cake" need not determine your activity level.  Certainly not!  Among her many execise activities, Kathy Smith does yoga twice weekly. 

Yes folks, regardless of your age, you must remain as active as you can because it makes you feel so darn good!  If you don't stay active, gravity and other forces can take their toll and as Kathy says if you don't start doing something now, you can get ready to do nothing later.  I couldn't agree more.

The yoga poses that I present in my new released book, Yoga at Home:  Gain Energy, Serenity, and Flexibility, in 20-30 Minutes are Day, with your physician or medical advisor's approval, can be started at any age.  The key is listening to your body and taking baby steps.  It doesn't matter how long you take to master a pose.  What is important is that you move and stretch your body daily or almost daily.  As another yoga writer, Ina Marx remarked in her book, You are in Charge:  The IM Method Total Fitness for the Fit and Not so Fit, when starting yoga, a, "regard your body as unused territory that will need patient cultivation."  

Start gentle yoga today to help yourself feel your best and remain active for virtually forever!

Yours for doing yoga regardless of your age,

 

Laura Venecia Rodriguez

 

Comments

[Tina]

You (and your book) are so right on!

There are even studios that are quickly learning what an aging person needs, and not to condescend to us. If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail: we are not ALL in search of Restorative Yoga or Age-Appropriate Yoga or even the euphemistically titled Yoga Stretch and Tone.

I am 56, and I WANT my home practices to be lengthy and very gently kick my butt into tomorrow, as well.

If I go to a studio, I now do go to the Level I class, because I want my home practices to be tougher overall than those of the studio, even if I have to add a supta virasana to the mix, or a backbend to the simple anjaneyasana that's presented.

Been there, done that on cross-training with a home practice UP to the level of twice-monthly classes.

[Laura Rodriguez]

Hi Tina,

Thanks for your comment. I am also 56 (which I usually can't believe - at least in terms of how I feel). I appreciate your feedback. Did you also get my book?

Laura

[Tina]

I'll at least look at your book. Maybe you have a bibliography with recommendations and additional resources for the more experienced yogin at the end of it. I am of the impression that the book is for beginners new to yoga, who don't know where to start.

[Laura Rodriguez]

You are correct, Tina. My book is an introduction to yoga for the beginners, especially people who consider themselves non-athletic or non-intense but have been curious about yoga and want to learn some basic poses. I do offer resources in the back of the book. I have mentioned a number of these in my blog posts so you can look at past postings for those. My book would be appropriate for any friends you have who might be curious about trying yoga for the first time in a gentle, easy, non-intimidating way.

Best,

Laura

[Laura Rodriguez]

I forgot to mention, Tina, that you can look inside my book on Amazon.com.

Best,

Laura