What gets you moving?
Aug 3, 2013 17:10:45 GMT
Post by htmb on Aug 3, 2013 17:10:45 GMT
I drove south to the historic town of Micanopy the other day to take a yoga class where one of my favorite teachers was substituting for the regular instructor. The drive took about 35 minutes, but the morning was cool and the ride across Paynes Prairie was quite pleasant. It also gave me plenty of time to think and I reflected on how yoga has had such a positive influence on my life in recent years.
I have a background in dance, mostly classical ballet, and participated in one form or another until I was in my mid-thirties. I have always appreciated grace of movement, balance, and flow, as well as various forms of stretching the body. Because my brain often processes information in a relentless manner - usually planning, formulating, examining, and processing some upcoming task of one kind or another - I always found dance a welcome distraction where that obsessive brain part would be switched to "off" and the creative side would take over.
I had gotten away from dance for a very long time, and during this period I performed various types of physical exercises, or did nothing at all. I went through years of being very active at the gym, walking, biking and being physically active; and through other times when life's challenges seemed to sap both my brain and my body. So, after a bit of a rough period, realizing I'd found myself becoming quite catatonic, I started pushing back towards better health by attending a yoga class. From that one class, my participation and involvement grew.
I've taken some very interesting classes with (mostly) marvelous instructors. Just one of the advantages of living in a forward-thinking, university town is the wealth of opportunities for group exercise. I have belonged to a gym for many years. My annual membership rate, which will never increase, is very cheap because I've had it for so long. The gym employs a few outstanding instructors, though yoga is certainly not a huge priority at this particular place. There are also some good yoga studios in town, and even a few places where classes are offered for free. Though I sometimes practice on my own, I find I push myself too hard and am more prone to injury.
As I age I find old injuries now becoming problematic, and new stiffness developing in joints that never bothered me before. Due to arthritis, it's often uncomfortable to get moving, but then the less I move the worse the problem becomes. It's like I'm rusting!!! I can tell the difference yoga has made in both my flexibility and my balance. There have been a couple of times I've been knocked down unexpectedly by the dog and was really surprised I hadn't broken a bone or at least sprained something. I'm confident the fact I've been practicing yoga was helpful in preventing injury.
The instructors whose classes I frequent are all quite different and bring to each class their years of experience and training, as well as their various personalities. One teacher is incredibly strong and has a background in massage therapy; another is an archeologist and an academic, whose knowledge of yoga never ceases to amaze her students. For me, the best teachers continuously remind their students that each of us is different and we should follow a practice that suites us best.
For example, a few years ago in class we were all holding a pose with our arms out in a "warrior two" position while the instructor walked around the room. That particular class can sometime number 100 participants, as it is very popular. There's also a mix of individuals ranging from college students all the way up age 80. As the instructor continued to walk around arms began to shake and people began to tire. So then, in her bright little voice, the instructor asked, "Are you tired? Do your arms hurt?" And then to the chorus of "yes" responses that followed, she asked, "Then why are your arms still in that position?"
While the physical part of a yoga practice has become a great addition to my life, the mental part has been even more beneficial. It definitely helps to calm and clear my mind, and I typically leave a class with a smile on my face, feeling very relaxed. I see the advantages weaving their way through just about everything I do now. It certainly has been noticeable in my dealings with others, and has made me a much more relaxed flyer.
There are many other ways to gain both physical and mental well-being; walking, running, swimming, skiing, and biking are just some that come to mind. Often it's done through everyday activities. Here in the U.S. where we tend to be more sedentary than the rest of the world, we have to work to make sure some form of physical activity is added to our day. I would love to explore the practice of yoga here with others, and would also like to hear what form of physical activity works best for you. How do you stay physically and mentally fit?
I have a background in dance, mostly classical ballet, and participated in one form or another until I was in my mid-thirties. I have always appreciated grace of movement, balance, and flow, as well as various forms of stretching the body. Because my brain often processes information in a relentless manner - usually planning, formulating, examining, and processing some upcoming task of one kind or another - I always found dance a welcome distraction where that obsessive brain part would be switched to "off" and the creative side would take over.
I had gotten away from dance for a very long time, and during this period I performed various types of physical exercises, or did nothing at all. I went through years of being very active at the gym, walking, biking and being physically active; and through other times when life's challenges seemed to sap both my brain and my body. So, after a bit of a rough period, realizing I'd found myself becoming quite catatonic, I started pushing back towards better health by attending a yoga class. From that one class, my participation and involvement grew.
I've taken some very interesting classes with (mostly) marvelous instructors. Just one of the advantages of living in a forward-thinking, university town is the wealth of opportunities for group exercise. I have belonged to a gym for many years. My annual membership rate, which will never increase, is very cheap because I've had it for so long. The gym employs a few outstanding instructors, though yoga is certainly not a huge priority at this particular place. There are also some good yoga studios in town, and even a few places where classes are offered for free. Though I sometimes practice on my own, I find I push myself too hard and am more prone to injury.
As I age I find old injuries now becoming problematic, and new stiffness developing in joints that never bothered me before. Due to arthritis, it's often uncomfortable to get moving, but then the less I move the worse the problem becomes. It's like I'm rusting!!! I can tell the difference yoga has made in both my flexibility and my balance. There have been a couple of times I've been knocked down unexpectedly by the dog and was really surprised I hadn't broken a bone or at least sprained something. I'm confident the fact I've been practicing yoga was helpful in preventing injury.
The instructors whose classes I frequent are all quite different and bring to each class their years of experience and training, as well as their various personalities. One teacher is incredibly strong and has a background in massage therapy; another is an archeologist and an academic, whose knowledge of yoga never ceases to amaze her students. For me, the best teachers continuously remind their students that each of us is different and we should follow a practice that suites us best.
For example, a few years ago in class we were all holding a pose with our arms out in a "warrior two" position while the instructor walked around the room. That particular class can sometime number 100 participants, as it is very popular. There's also a mix of individuals ranging from college students all the way up age 80. As the instructor continued to walk around arms began to shake and people began to tire. So then, in her bright little voice, the instructor asked, "Are you tired? Do your arms hurt?" And then to the chorus of "yes" responses that followed, she asked, "Then why are your arms still in that position?"
While the physical part of a yoga practice has become a great addition to my life, the mental part has been even more beneficial. It definitely helps to calm and clear my mind, and I typically leave a class with a smile on my face, feeling very relaxed. I see the advantages weaving their way through just about everything I do now. It certainly has been noticeable in my dealings with others, and has made me a much more relaxed flyer.
There are many other ways to gain both physical and mental well-being; walking, running, swimming, skiing, and biking are just some that come to mind. Often it's done through everyday activities. Here in the U.S. where we tend to be more sedentary than the rest of the world, we have to work to make sure some form of physical activity is added to our day. I would love to explore the practice of yoga here with others, and would also like to hear what form of physical activity works best for you. How do you stay physically and mentally fit?