Yoga to Slow Down the Aging Process
According to Jo, after 30+ years of building her own personal practice, she’s learned that yoga addresses every injury—physical and emotional—that you have experienced in your life, and it will positively affect every aspect of your life if you allow it to! And if you’re just beginning to practice yoga, there are plenty of resources to help you build your practice and realize the abundance of benefits. Yoga classes are widely available in studios, YMCAs, churches, and senior resource centers.
As you continue to practice yoga, you will be doing something wonderful for body, mind, and spirit. A regular practice gives your wellness an ongoing boost:
- Your balance will be increased.
- Your joints will be stretched and strengthened.
- You learn to breathe more deeply and mindfully.
- You’ll learn how to pay attention to your body.
- You’ll discover how to focus your thoughts on the present moment.
For bodies who come to the mat with stiffness and aches and pains, gentle guidance is available. Here’s your go-to resource for yogis in their 40s, 50s, and beyond: Lilias Folan’s book, Lilias! Yoga Gets Better with Age.
The book highlights what she calls “yin” yoga, a special technique to adapt traditional asanas to maturing bodies. She says, “Yoga emphasizes the doing and the practice. It can be adapted to fit every body, no matter what size, shape, age or physical condition. ALL ARE WELCOME.”
Attending classes will help you learn the basic poses, and books—especially books with plenty of large photos like Folan’s book—can show you some new poses. Your practice will build over time as you learn different ways to move and stretch, and your body will teach you that each session is unique. The important thing is to get on the mat regularly.
Jo Walker Yoga 