I can hear you right now…”Annette, don’t tell me what I am and am not. That’s only for me to decide. You don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s a myriad of reasons that yoga and I will never be a thing. For starters,
- I’ve seen yoga poses in magazines. Only someone with a gymnastics background can practice yoga.
- I actually went to a class once and felt totally lost. Everyone knew what to do but me.
- I tried a YouTube video and hurt myself.
- I need to focus on cardio exercise. I can just do a few stretches after my workout and get the same benefits.
- I have never been flexible and it’s too late to start trying now.”
Here’s something I do know about you. Stress is real in your life. Sometimes it precludes you from sleeping well and makes you feel depressed. You worry about getting sick as you get older, having to be taken care of in old age and running out of money because of it. And, I know yoga can help reduce stress and alleviate physical issues you may be experiencing.
You can breathe right? Then, you can practice yoga.
Anyone can practice yoga. It’s a matter of where to begin and how to progress. There’s a purpose to the practice that doesn’t involve complicated poses, incense and chanting. Simple focused breathing for one minute when feeling overwhelmed is yoga. Just like that, your blood pressure can go down and your head can clear.
I sense you aren’t on the yoga bandwagon just yet. Let me tell you more about the powerful combination of yoga breathing and gentle poses.
Dynamic Duo
First, let’s talk about yogic belly breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing. It feels like you are using your whole torso to breathe, instead of just your chest. This means more oxygen into your cells, which your body loves. Without going all chemistry class on you, oxygen equates to energy, which leads to better functioning systems of your body. Better function, less wear and tear, healthy longer…see where this is going?
Focused belly breathing does something else for you, turns on the “rest and digest” side of your autonomic nervous system. This means, instead of potentially harmful hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine floating around in your blood you have happy hormones hanging out. These can include acetylcholine (lowers heart rate), serotonin, dopamine and endorphins (all producing calming effects to the body).
The dynamic duo of belly breathing and yoga poses provides boosted immunity. Ever since Covid hit everyone has wanted a body readily able to go to war against all the germs lurking in the environment. Stress and inactivity won’t get you there. And, I’m talking about gentle yoga poses, no headstands or maneuvering your body into a pretzel needed.
Yoga is a non-impact practice, easy on the joints. Chances are you may have at least a little bit of arthritis going on in your body. Look, I’m not dissing you. Did you know in 2022 peeps as young as their 20s are suffering from different forms of arthritis? Anyone living with this chronic disease needs to keep doing one thing, moving. Maybe you’ve heard this…sitting is the new smoking. Staying still will only make you stiffer and lead to other chronic issues.
Yoga is a weight-bearing practice. There’s strength and flexibility components to yoga poses. So, you can help your body get stronger bones and muscles while also gaining joint range of motion and fluidity.
Wow, who knew one form of movement could check so many health & wellness boxes!
I heard your objections to becoming a yogini (woman who practices yoga). But, you can’t ignore all the benefits yoga provides that you need. There’s lower stress levels, more energy, better sleep, decrease in pain levels, increase in strength and flexibility, lower heart rate and blood pressure, possibly getting off a prescription drug, helping the recovery process from an injury, increasing immunity, becoming more focused and living in the moment. Whew, that’s too many positives to ignore!
Many of your reasons for not practicing yoga boil down to not finding the right class or teacher. There’s yoga for the 20 somethings who appear to be built like gumby and then there’s yoga for Y-O-U! The right fit is everything. Please try this breathing technique and let me know how it goes by emailing me at annette@wisegoddesses.com.
I’m betting I’ve sold you, fabulous woman over 50, on giving yoga a first, or maybe second, chance. And, if I’m correct, please consider joining the Wise Goddesses On Demand community. You can keep learning about yoga and other modalities of movement to support your body, mind and spirit. Who wouldn’t rather have help traveling the path to vitality and longevity, right?
