It's not the most uplifting piece of information you're ever going to receive but as we get older there are, potentially, a few conditions and diseases coming our way. However, on a much more positive note, by practicing yoga as part of our self care routine in some cases we can slow or prevent the onset of some of these.
How yoga can help. It has long been known that exercise plays an important role in keeping ourselves heart healthy. Staying mobile and incorporating physical exercise into our daily routine is critical to our long term health. Incorporating a yoga practice of asanas (physical poses) in to our daily routine can help. A moderate vinyasa (flowing) class practiced a few times a week will keep the heart rate up for a cardiovascular workout but even a slower paced practice also has its benefits as it encourages physical activity. The meditation element of a yoga practice can also reduce the effects of stress and anxiety and its impact on heart health.
How yoga can help. The breathing exercises which form part of a well rounded yoga practice can help to improve lung capacity. With yoga's attention to breath techniques and posture the ribcage becomes more expansive and the diaphragm moves more freely enabling the lungs to work more efficiently.
With a regular yoga practice we can support ourselves and, in some cases, slow or prevent the onset of some conditions and diseases.
How yoga can help. Through the practices of mindfulness and meditation the mind can quieten and negative thought patterns that can fuel stress and anxiety may be managed more effectively. Many yoga instructors will incorporate an element of mindfulness or guided meditation into a class or, alternatively, it's well worth giving a dedicated meditation class a try.
How yoga can help. There are many conditions that affect the bones as we age, the more common ones being osteoporosis and arthritis. The weight bearing poses of a regular yoga practice can help reduce the risks of bone degeneration caused by osteoporosis. Moving fluidly through physical poses helps keeps the body moving and maintains the range of motion in the joints which is beneficial for those who may be affected by arthritis.
Although this is just a small sample of the benefits of yoga and age related conditions it does illustrate the value of a yoga practice as a worthwhile health care investment.
Make this the year you discover the life enhancing affects of yoga by giving your local class or yoga studio a try.
According to recent research 81% of us now use a smartphone and time spent interacting with media on a phone, laptop, tablet or other digital device increases year on year.
We all know what a time drain anything to do with the internet can be and we're all guilty of getting caught up wandering aimlessly online. Even the most disciplined of us can get distracted by a well targeted article or advertisement.
Ironically, despite the digital help that is meant to simplify our lives, more and more of us a succumbing to a life of stress, anxiety and burnout. There are not enough hours in the day.
So, if we're going to spend so much time online then we may as well be filling that time with quality content and learning how to make positive use out of all of the reams of information coming our way all day, every day.
'when we prioritize our wellbeing, our decision making, our creativity, our productivity and our performance dramatically improve across the board'.
Focusing on health, well-being and performance, Thrive Global is packed with articles about thriving in life as well as apps, podcasts and e-courses all around the theme of self care both physically and mentally.
Take a look through the digital pages and you'll find…..
journal. Packed full of positive articles embracing a range of topics and filed under categories such as well-being, wisdom and working smarter. Thrive Global nurtures the idea of creating balance in our lives by prioritizing our well-being and not living to a point of burnout. Another great feature of the journal is the indicator at the top of each article describing how long a read it is. You can make the decision to invest in 3 minutes of reading time or 20.
shop. An opportunity to browse the latest health and well-being products, services and technology available to us. The products here are selected specifically to support us in our quest for a healthy life.
apps&podcasts. Digital aids and e-courses to help you live a more productive and, therefore, less stressed life.
Arianna believes that 'when we prioritize our wellbeing, our decision making, our creativity, our productivity and our performance dramatically improve across the board'.
Dip in and take a look and you will find something to inspire. If you're going to spend time online, which we all inevitably will continue to do, this inspiring website is one well worth getting lost in.
Thrive Global – More than Living. Thriving.
The great thing about yoga is that it is such a portable practice. Once you have a few of the poses down it's easy to practice anywhere you have space to roll out your mat.
There are many accessories and props you can purchase to assist your yoga practice (which I would recommend investing in over time) but when starting out the most important yoga item to have is a yoga mat and, for that, you have many options.
The key thing to bear in mind is that yoga mats need to be 'sticky' in the sense that they grip well when you are working on them. Some mats have a texture to them which really helps with grip. Initially, you may find the mat surface to have a light, slippery sheen but this breaks down with use. You can always help break up the surface a little by rubbing with a cotton cloth.
Around 3-4mm is a great thickness for a yoga mat as it offers some cushioning to the body but isn't so thick that it is like stepping on to a camping mattress.
1 Borrow one. Most studios do have yoga mats available to borrow so if you are not too particular about using a mat other students have used then this is a good option to start.
3 If you're a yard sale, rummage sale or thrift store fiend, keep an eye out. I've seen mats at yard sales with the cellophane wrap still intact – an unwanted gift for the seller but a gem find for you!
4 Look for a bargain. Stores like TJ Maxx and Ross are both bursting with deals and it's well worth a look here for a bargain priced mat. Sometimes branded with a name you may recognise, sometimes not. I've seen mats in both stores for twenty bucks and lower.
5 Target. It doesn't really matter what you're looking for – Target will always provide! They have a yoga section with a great selection of yoga gear. Mats are in the $20 – $30 dollar range.
6 Sports shops. Sports shops do stock yoga mats just be careful not to pick up the typical 'gym' type mat which is often much thicker, spongier and more slippery than a yoga mat.
7 Specialised Yoga & Fitness clothing stores. There are a few of these around now. Some of them carry great quality yoga mats but you might want to be doing some deep yogic breathing when you read the prices!
8 The studio. Many studios have a retail area where you can buy, among other things, yoga mats. These are generally well established yoga brands which are great in quality but do come at a price.
Light on Yoga is one of the most universally recognized books about yoga and the textbook of choice for many a teacher training's reading list. A must have for any yoga student's bookshelf.
A yoga instructor once said to me that 'the only book you will ever need for yoga is Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar' (admittedly, it was an Iyengar yoga instructor 😉 ) But there must be some truth to this comment as, despite first being published in 1966, it is still in print today and one of the go to references for many a yogi.
BKS Iyengar is one of the most recognized names in contemporary yoga and the 'Iyengar' style of yoga one of the most established and popular today.
Light on Yoga is one of the most universally recognized books about yoga and the textbook of choice for many a teacher training's reading list.
The book is broken down into three parts……..
Part 1 Introduction – What is yoga?
A large section is dedicated to the '8 limbs of yoga' from The Yoga Sutras which are often referred to in a class setting and certainly in a teacher training program.
Asanas, or poses, make up the biggest chunk of this book. Each pose is broken down into its Sanskrit name with translation and the effects of the pose – physical benefits, anatomical breakdown and mental/emotional benefits.
This is the section where you'll know you're reading a book that dates back to the 60's simply because of the photos but each photo clearly demonstrates the pose.
Pranayama, or breath work. Each technique is described, along with the effects and cautionary information.
The back of the book offers three sections of asana sequences for different levels of student – primary, intermediate and advanced. There is also a section describing weekly practices incorporating all of the poses.
A further useful section also gives a comprehensive list of health conditions with appropriate poses.
Light on Yoga is always available on the shelves of Barnes & Noble and other large booksellers as well as the online option.