!st day

Yes its the !st day and the exclamation mark is deliberate ( I know its hard to tell with my blogs! 😉)

So my decision to take my yoga passion forward ( see previous blog ) is well under way.

So my !st day was a day full of mixed emotions... and I thought it might be a valuable life lesson to revisit it ( whilst its still fresh in my mind ) and use it for my journal. ( which I need as part of my Yoga instructor course )

It was made marginally more comfortable by the fact that I was coming along with someone else. 
Katie,  one of my instructors in another class, was also on this course, but other than at the leisure centre,  I didnt know her.
BUT I really felt out of my depth.  Was everyone else feeling the same as me?  Everyone else had probably done a lot more yoga than me! (hadnt they?) They definitely seemed more knowledgeable than me.  They were all different ages but I would say I was one of the oldest.  I was expecting at least half of them to be wearing some kind of 'yoga attire'  beads, braided hair etc ( but there wasnt any ... no I didnt have any on either lol )
Just shows what kind of stereotypical pictures I had in my head!
But there was all different types.  9 women and 1 guy. From different walks of life, including a nurse a cosmetic tatooist amongst others.
The tutor was not what I expected either. I dont really know what I expected!  probably someone who looked more like a 'YOGI'?  lol  ( what even does a yogi look like )
well they look a lot like the rest of us, a very mixed bunch.
Ist day consisted of explaining the course and an awful lot of information crammed into a short amount of time.
There was an opportunity to do some practical too.
And then the awful realisation that we all would get an opportunity to have a go at teaching!!!
Each of us had to teach several class members. It was only Introduction and mobilisation BUT I was so stressed. I have never had to do anything like this before and I was well out of my comfort zone.
And its fair to say I did NOT enjoy it.
And the strange thing was I had done all the moves/sequences etc hundreds of times before ( they were a very simplified version of what I do ) YET when it was my turn to teach I couldnt remember anything..HELL I'd even forgot how to breathe!!!!
( did I really choose to do this ? )

journal Adho mukha svanasana

6 a.m.
Another early start for me ( balance class at 9.30)
Not so much soreness this morning as I stepped out of bed 👌
(  not to say that I cant feel my aches )
This is good it reminds me that I have been working hard, I'm aware of my upper arms in particular, and the muscles in the arms, still feeling sore. ( oh yes and pain in the butt 😉 gluteus maximus )
( I remember in particular about 2 years ago, before taking up yoga, that I was experiencing a lot of discomfort in my wrists and elbows.  I remember being quite concerned about it, it was obvious for quite a few months and even just the simplest of every day actions, such as leaning on my elbow or carrying shopping would be very sore. I remember distinctly thinking 'Damn, I'm getting old!!' 👵  and I was not happy about it. ) ( not particularly the getting old side of it, although, to be fair, I'm not happy about that at all, but its inevitable!!!, it is more the ailments that are associated with getting old!  that I object to)
another excellent reason to be as healthy as possible...be the best you.... see previous blogs
I can truthfully say on a day to day basis I do NOT have pain in my wrists, yes, if I have been doing a lot more yoga which particularly uses arms/ wrists/shoulders etc I do experience discomfort, BUT, and for me this is the important bit, it is temporary and reminds me that I am working hard and getting stronger)
so back to this morning....

I put the soreness down to the increased amount of adho mukha svanasana, ( downward facing dog poses) both at home /classes. 
Probably one of the most widely recognised asanas ( moves/postures )
and a very good all in one posture which gives multiple benefits  ( to be revisited in future blogs)

 so continuing my day with some slow and deep inhale/exhale breaths ( see previous post )
before going through my sun salutations ( see previous post ) and now onto several repetitions of adho mukha svanasana to stretch out all those muscles...

onwards and upwards

😉

yoga for life....golden yogis

Namaste

so my previous blog was all about the celebrated yoga teacher #Tao Porchon-Lynch 98 years old          

( Named “Oldest Yoga Teacher” by Guinness World Records in 2012)

yes an amazing lady to say the least...

and yes, surprisingly, there are a lot of amazing older people out there who devote their lives to being healthy and fit and include yoga in their recipe for a long and healthy life. 

And funnily enough lycra leggings are NOT essential😉

The recent UCLA research took brain scans and memory tests, comparing the effects of 12 weeks of memory exercises with a course of yoga and meditation on 25 adults over 55. The latter not only had better improvements in their spatial and visual memories, but also more reduced depression and anxiety and increased resilience to stress. “Although this study is small, it suggests that we should be doing more research into the benefits of yoga and meditation as additional ways to keep our hearts and brains in good health as we age,” says Dr Clare Walton of the #Alzheimer’s Society.

There’s no need for hours and hours of headstands to benefit. In this study, volunteers did just one hour of #Kundalini yoga a week. This is a gentle form of yoga that incorporates breathing techniques, meditation and some chanting of mantras. The latter may feel silly at first but can be easier than other forms of meditation. The study participants also did 20 minutes daily of #Kirtan Kriya, a type of meditation involving chanting, hand movements and visualization of light.

there are many benefits that yoga can give to every one... but especially beneficial as we get older:

Increased flexibility

Strengthens muscles ( including ones that we may have forgotten about ! )

Creates mindfulness ( giving a feeling of empowerment, improving sleep, improving the way we breathe )

Improves Balance ( especially important as we get older )

Gives confidence ( an opportunity to join classes and regain a social life and companionship )

So be the best version of YOU at any age...its never too late to start Yoga