An extended working life creates more need for relaxation and stress relief.
Many older individuals would not think of beginning a yoga practice as they equate yoga with youth and twisting into pretzel shapes. However, with the right teacher who can help you adapt postures and suggest props suited to your ability, a satisfying yoga practice is possible.
Benefits
- mobility of joints, increased flexibility and decreased muscle stiffness,
- improved breathing leading to oxygenated blood,
- stilling of body and mind and
- and other scientifically proven benefits we will explore later.
The right teacher
Finding the right teacher is crucial for a yoga practice that meets your needs.
It pays to ask around and then enquire about the teacher’s background and practice. Although not a rule, it is common sense that the closer teachers are to your own age, the better the experience will be – because they probably know the difficulties from a personal viewpoint!
Have a preliminary meeting to discuss any physical limitations and assess the teacher’s ability to work with you.
Mindset
Whatever happens remember:
- you must go at your own pace
- you are not in competition
- pay attention to your breathing
- practice at home
Do you have some comments to add? Do you know of any inspiring teachers of older practitioners? Use the comment box below.
Leave a Reply