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