How did you get into Yoga?

Quite by accident really. 

I have always liked the idea of things that relate to yoga – meditation, joss sticks, India, short dabbles into Buddhism, you know the thing.   But when I joined a gym about 15 years ago, I ran across a class and decided to give it a go.  I was well into my 40s at this time and I had put my back out very seriously about 5 years previously, so I was very nervous about doing anything to reverse the progress I had been making and was still experiencing on and off pain from my back. 

I also have joint hypermobility, which means that I need to strengthen the muscles around my joints to support the joints.  This means some gym exercises and equipment that play heavily on the use of certain joints cause me pain. 

“Yoga doesn’t take time – it gives time”

Yoga was a revelation.  The ability to do a class, to my own ability, with clear explanations and no competition other than with myself, was amazing.  You use your own bodyweight to build strength, it seems gentle, but is massively beneficial and over the course of time since my first foray into yoga, I have moved from that Iyengar class to my regular Yin class and now I am at the point where my back is not a concern other than I want to know how I can increase its flexibility so I can do some more advanced yoga poses.

I am 57 now and feel fitter than I have done in years.   I think anyone in their 50s will have certain injuries or aches and pains.  If not, if you don’t, please let me know, I would love to hear from you and find out how you did it!

But age is just a number when the 80-year-old in my class can do the splits whilst the rest of us just look on in awe, then this is made quite clear!

How do others get started?

Simple – find a local class and go along.

They usually last 45 minutes to an hour; wear something comfortable and stretchy, take a mat if you have one, but gyms do have their own you can use and you will be able to borrow blocks and straps. Classes can get booked up and quite difficult to get into at first, but be persistent, nobody with a regular place can get to every single class and it is often possible to get on a waiting list in case of cancelations. 

There are also numerous videos on YouTube, that you could use to give yourself an idea. I love Sarah Beth Chapman and Boho Beautiful. (The latter is one of the thin and blond yoginis on a beach, but her yin yoga videos are great!) I haven’t tried Yoga with Adrienne although she is extremely popular currently (she has a small dog). Have a look at a few and see what you think. Everyone has different styles and some you will like, others you won’t.

“Yoga isn’t about touching your toes, its about what you learn on the way down”

As I have mentioned I do a Yin class, however, another one at a local gym that I attend occasionally is just Yoga, with no label. In case you have a choice and several classes to attend here is a quick explanation of the main types of yoga that you are likely to find.

Yin: This is a slow-paced form of yoga with poses based on the traditional asanas that can be held from 30 seconds to 20 minutes. It involves positions that stretch connective tissue, that you can breathe into and extend over the time you hold them and in this way also makes fascia more flexible.

(Fascias over time become inflexible and that is what can decrease mobility as people age).

Iyengar: Another type of yoga that involves holding poses for longer periods of time, whilst extending into them as you hold and breathe.

Hatha:  In Sanskrit, Hatha is an umbrella term for all yoga positions and this can be a good starter form of yoga as it is usually slower than other types. It will introduce you to classic yogic breathing.

Ashtanga:  Is a strenuous form of yoga that uses dynamic systems that coordinate breathing and movement and very often incorporating vinyasa flow that is explained below. It will balance strength and flexibility

Vinyasa Flow: Movement coordinated with the breath, a variety of poses, sometimes held for short periods of time, linked into flowing movement and repetition. Possibly the most athletic of all types of yoga.

Kundalini: Yoga more linked with meditation, chanting, and spirituality. Core work with fast-moving postures and breathing exercises.

Bikram: This is the hot one – in rooms heated to about 41%c – therefore not for the faint-hearted and not for beginners. There are 26 poses – 24 asanas (I will explain this below) one pranayama or breathing exercise and one shatkarma, which is a purification, I have never done anything like this and I think rather than going to a gym in a temperature that replicates the Indian climate I would rather try yoga in an Indian yoga centre and experience the real feeling that this can create!

What are Asanas?

Asanas are body postures which were originally seated and used for meditation but have become more varied as time progressed to include any type of pose, whether standing, inverted, twisting and balancing.  I have seen that there can be up to 84 of these but looking at 8 basic asanas that will help you at the beginning of your yoga journey, I am demonstrating these below.

“Yoga gives our body freedom.  We are flowers – it enables us to blossom”

All these poses come under the category of strength building.  Most use the core to hold the pose, most use strong legs and foot posture.  I am demonstrating them and giving a bit of information about each one, but explain in much greater detail how to do them on my Instagram and Facebook site.   Also, in my blog, which focuses on various angles of how yoga can benefit everyone.