There are so many excellent yoginis on that globe who share their knowledge for free, that I wondered if I can still add something to that huge knowledge available for everybody. I think I can. My back injury a few years back was a cut in my life and in my yoga practice. I had to step back, I had to reflect on what I was doing, I cursed a lot. I was disappointed. It would have been too easy to blame others. Finally I realized that I’m responsible for myself. I love the Ashtanga yoga system, but I also became more open for other styles, too. In the last year I bought a membership at the Sivananda yoga school in Munich. I’ve been there several times. It inspired me and I could make changes in my own practice. What exactly this is will be a topic in posts to come. I know that I have to listen to my body much more than I did. Rules can guide but one must break the rules if they are not useful. I adjust my practice to my needs and not to the rules. I developed a critical mind. Another huge topic of the last years was the method. How can I learn new asanas safely and effectively.
I don’t want to forget that yoga is a life style. What we eat is important. A simple life style fits to a yogini.
My niche:
I’m 60 now. A body with 60 is different than a body with 30 or 40, 50 or younger.. To learn new asanas takes more time. To heal from an injury takes longer. To get stronger and more flexible takes more time, too. It is said that older people lose flexibility and strength. This is true. The more important it is to work on strength and flexibility, perhaps even in special sessions. When I return to my practice after a break it’s harder than it used to be a decade ago. I get overstretched much faster. What can we older yoginis do to practice safely will be a topic. Additional strength training is a good advice for everybody, but especially for people above 60.. Yoga with 60 and above is my niche.
What I have learned during my injury can also be important for younger people. What is important for an older person can also be an advantage for a younger person. It’s the future for everybody to get older.
The very first advice is to take care not to have too long breaks. Practicing sun salutations and a few asanas and a short closing sequence is better than nothing. Between doing nothing and a long exhausting yoga practice are many possibilities.
Keep practicing.
Take short breaks. To have a day off during a week is great. The body also needs to relax. My experience is that a break that lasts a week is too long. Then it becomes hard again to practice. Most of the time I overstretch slightly. I want to avoid this. Observe yourself. Get to know yourself. What is best for me needn’t be the best for you. Not every practice must be super exhausting. Sometimes it’s OK to take it easy. Being playful is great.
Soon a new decade will start. I’m so excited.