Yoga for Health & Healing

 Yoga for Health & Healing

Ageing with Grace, Dick’s Story.

Dick is an inspirational yoga student, he started practicing when he was 75 years old and did not give up in his first lesson when he thought he had to sit cross-legged and force himself into unsuitable positions.  Fortunately, he found a teacher who adapts the postures for his needs and even allows him to sit in a chair rather than crossed legged!

Find the right teacher

It is so important to find the right teacher for senior yoga, to ensure you feel comfortable in postures no matter how old you are.  If you watch the video, you’ll hear that Dick started yoga when he was 75 years old and has been practicing for at least 10 years.

He explains when he came to yoga, he was looking for physical benefits; greater flexibility, greater co-ordination, more strength and more balance, believing that these things will help him stay fit.  Although these aspects are still important to him, he finds the most important aspect is that he has the ability to be in the present moment through his practice.

His teacher Ellen Fein is based in America, she trained in Viniyoga the same tradition that I teach.  Like Ellan I am trained in adapting postures for individuals in order for them to feel the benefits of yoga. 

Loosen up and reduce aches and pains

Dick is happy to practice yoga in a group class with the adaptations his teacher gives him; he feels part of the group and doesn’t feel self-conscious as he can take himself into his own space.  He appreciates that with adaptations he is able to feel the benefits of yoga he may have previously been shut off from.

He follows a home practice in the morning which helps him loosen up and feel free of aches and pains.

Watch the clip to hear about Dick telling his story as he does a much better job than I can in written words.