Easy Does It Yoga Class

On Friday I had a little daytrip for myself and it all began in Rose Russo's "Easy Does It" yoga class in Newburyport. Rose is a kind and gentle teacher and a Reika master as well. After spending a few minutes with her, you could almost sense that she was a healer. She made me feel welcome from the start. Although the class is called "easy does it", it's not as easy as you think. It's important to remember that your body may not be in the "easy" place today. But, no matter...you start where you are and go from there. We did several standing poses using the wall as an assist. The wall provides a lot of stability and acts like a security blanket if you're feeling shaky. This was a timely experience for me as I've been neglecting my practice of late. Sometimes you just need a little (gentle) push in the right direction and that's just what I found in this class. :)

Starting Over

We've just returned from an action-packed week travelling to New York City and Washington, D.C. We saw several shows, did lots of sightseeing, had fabulous dinners out, and walked, walked, walked!!!! Of course, I had every good intention of keeping up my daily yoga practice on this vacation...but this was not to be! I could tell you that I was busy - or tired - or pressed for time -and that would all be the truth. Regardless, I didn't practice and now I must start over.

So, today, I began with warm-ups and gently urged my body to open and respond. From there, I practiced standing and balancing poses. I can balance for a few moments now and realize that I'm not where I used to be...and that's ok. From here, I practiced sun salutations - slowly, deliberately, mindfully. At times my body would "creak" and I felt like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz needing oil!

But, gradually, showing myself a little compassion, the stiffness dissolved and I felt at ease. Starting over, in fact, is probably a good thing for yoga practitioners. It puts you in a position to take things slow, to breathe, to notice, observe.

Yoga and Osteoporosis

Once I was diagnosed with osteoporosis (May, 1999), I developed an almost borderline obsession with my posture. Even now as I write this, I consciously just brought my shoulders back and sat up straighter. It was the "dowager's hump" that had me in a state. But a recent article published by Reuters News Service indicates that yoga may decrease this age-related curve of the upper spine. A small study was conducted by Dr. Gail Greendale (UCLA) where a group of elderly study participants did yoga for 6 months and the results were compared to a group who did no yoga. The yoga group saw their upper spine curve lowered by about 5 percent. The yoga group met 3 days a week for 6 months. During their yoga classes, they used breathing techniques and did poses to increase flexibility and strength in their back muscles. Granted, this was a very small study with only about 120 participants in all. However, it is just one example of the benefits of a regular yoga practice...and another reason to spread the word to our senior population.

Seated Sun Salutations

Peggy Cappy introduced me to a Sun Salutation version that can be done entirely while seated in a chair. I've been practicing this and wanted to try it out with my class - but, for some reason, I've been dragging my feet and have put it off. Until Monday, that is! We started off slowly and did the poses in incremental steps. Lift your arms up and kiss the sun. Arms out to the side and bow to the earth. We did that a few times and then followed with the additional poses.

Lo and behold, not only could they do it...they loved it!!!!

"I think that I shall never see..."

...a poem lovely as a tree." ~Joyce Kilmer

My gentle yoga class has met a half dozen or so times now and each week we practice balance poses - and especially tree pose. It's not an easy pose for those with balance issues. We use a chair and do the pose in stages. Stage one has one leg rooted on the ground while lifting the heel only of the other leg. From there, we may lift the heel and toes for just a few seconds. When they are ready, the leg comes up - but we're still holding on to the chair for support. Often, one or two students will take their arms up and start to wobble. I tell them not to worry about swaying because "trees sway" and for some reason or other, that always cracks them up. They start to laugh and lose their balance! Up again! Down again! All the while smiling!

What a treat for me - they enjoy yoga!

Random Yoga Thoughts...

• I need to fit short yoga practices in throughout my day.
• And keeping a yoga journal would help.
• Yoga postures definitely do a lot to relieve stress.
• As does massage.
• And add meditation here, too.
• But relaxing my mind is a real challenge for me.
• The library has a variety of yoga books, tapes, DVD's.
• And, I'm building my own mini yoga library.
• Yoga Mind & Body: Ali MacGraw is still one of the best tapes, though.
• The "pretty room" is where I practice yoga at home.
• It's not fancy but there's a sense of serenity there for me.
• Honor your body - love that phrase!
• Another one - It's a practice; not a perfect!
• And, how about downward dog being called the Mother Superior of all poses?

Green Tea Yoga Studio

Today I had the pleasure of attending a class in Core Yoga offered by Green Tea Yoga Studio. The studio itself is quite beautiful and clean. There were plenty of mats, blocks, straps, etc. My instructor, Elaine, has been practicing yoga since the 70's and teaching full-time since 1994. I arrived at class somewhat early and had a chance to chat with Elaine for a few minutes before the start. She told me that she focuses on the anatomy to help the students find the wisdom in their own bodies. And, so, in the class, we concentrated on finding our core and using it for support and for strength. Elaine was soft-spoken and gentle; she played soft music throughout the class. She asked permission to make hands-on adjustments and I was particularly grateful for that. I think I've found my "home" base. For further info, please check out: www.greenteayoga.com.