Resilient Reflections: Yoga for You - The Myths are Busted
Yoga for You: The Myths are Busted
I’ve spent a fair amount of time over the last month writing blogs and doing videos covering the “de-mythifying” of yoga (yes, my made up word😊). Go to our facebook page to check out the videos and find the blog posts HERE. It was my hope to help people gain greater insight into yoga and to open a door to a wonderful practice and life changing experience for the better!
We covered areas that I want to highlight for those folks who may have never tried yoga/exercise, for those who may have left yoga after trying because you didn’t have a good experience first time out, and for those of you who may have had a practice and had to leave it for a whole host of different reasons. And hopefully to reinforce to current yogis because yoga is so fantastic for our minds, bodies and abilities to manage life’s changes!
My personal market is women in their prime, 50 +. Anyone is welcome at PŪR Resilience, but my ideal market is the same woman that I am! We are trailblazers in our career fields and personal lives, caught in the middle of managing different generations. We are often working and taking care of family simultaneously. That’s who we are! Hardworking, loyal, and putting everyone or everything else first!
Now, I have no regrets. I’ve given everything I’ve had inside me to grow in many ways because I had the opportunity to break new ground for women in my field and because that’s what I wanted to do. I took care of my family because that’s what I wanted to do. Others first. And I know so many of you are the same!
So, a quick intro into some thoughts about yoga for where you are right now! With your maturity, your life, and your health.
If you’re over 50 and have been a practicing yoga for some years, you may start to notice little changes here and there when it comes to your strength, endurance, and flexibility. Just like any type of physical activity, as we mature, some activities that used to come easy begin to get a little more challenging. Maintaining and improving fitness becomes more of an uphill battle as we log more miles on our bodies. The beauty of being an existing practitioner is that you are already well advanced to being strong, maintaining your balance (physically and emotionally) and working consistently on your cognitive function for the brain. Keep it up and your ability to mature and age in a healthy way is skyrocketing!
If you’re over 50 and NEW to yoga or needing to get back into yoga after a period away from your practice, you are still going to reap HUGE rewards. It’s NEVER too late to start yoga. You just have to start.
Here are 6 things to consider with respect to yoga, maturity and aging:
Start at the beginning.
It doesn’t matter when you start your practice, all that matters is that you are starting. “Think of this choice as a choice on the path of self-discovery.” No matter how well you think you know yourself; you will certainly discover more about yourself as you commit to your yoga practice. Start at the beginning with Beginner classes/series, and/or level 1 classes (may be referred to as All Levels), and look for slower paced, measured and/or restorative yoga classes.
You Get The Benefits Of Movement -- Without The Strain.
Exercise is a crucial part of healthy aging, but high-intensity cardio or strength training can also put strain on the body. According to stress expert Dr. Kathleen Hall, regular exercise reduces the risk of death by a third and cuts the risk of chronic disease by 40 percent. Yoga can be an excellent low-impact exercise option that's easier on the body than activities like running or weight-lifting.
"Yoga helps people integrate an exercise program into their routine without some of the downfalls that you can easily come across in different training systems. Yoga does offer strength training because you use the weight of your own body in many of the postures. But unlike regular strength training, because you're not adding any weight, you're less likely to get injured.”
Increased Flexibility.
The gentle stretching of a yoga pose can go a long way in helping you develop greater flexibility, which can ensure that you maintain a good range of motion as you get older.
"Yoga exercises parts of the body that may not be exercised in any other programs. One is spinal flexibility... There's a yogic saying that 'the body is as young as the spine is flexible.' That's a reflection of the importance of keeping the spine pliable.”
Promotes Good Bone Health.
A gentle yoga practice is not only safe for those with osteoporosis, but it can also be effective in preventing and slowing bone density loss. Whether you're looking to prevent osteoporosis or to relieve pain from an existing bone condition or fracture, or keep strength overall, gentler twisting poses and stretches in yoga can be beneficial.
"I know [yoga] can help because I've done the studies," Fishman, has done extensive research on yoga and osteoporosis. Referring to a study involving adults he said, "We did a bone mineral density (DEXA) scan, then we taught half of them yoga, waited two years, and did another scan. And not only did these people not lose bone, but they also gained bone. The ones who didn't do the yoga lost a little bone, as you would expect."
Yoga Can Relieve Menopausal Discomfort.
Certain yoga postures can also help ease the hormonal fluctuations of menopause. Try poses like Bridge, Seated Forward Bend, and Plow to relieve uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, from hot flashes to anxiety to painful menstruation. (Please note we have a whole posture guide you can purchase, and we include a Beginners Posture Guide with our 101 Series).
Yoga Keeps The Mind Sharp and Vitality within the Body.
Taking quiet time out for yourself through a weekly or daily yoga practice can help relieve stress, and keep you centered and energized. "When your body functions better, you're going to feel better," says Norlyk Smith. "You'll have more energy, more vitality, and most yoga practitioners will say that regular yoga practice helps even out one's moods."
References
Huffpost, Dr. Kathleen Hall, Contributor
www.yogauonline.com, Eva Norlyk-Smith
Manhattan Physical Medicine, Dr. Loren Fishman
