Gentle Yoga

In January, 1994 an 86 year old man came to class at Yoga & Inner Peace. For his age, he was in very good shape; he had an open mind and a strong desire to practice yoga. He had never done yoga before. His physician who also obviously had an open mind had suggested that he try yoga. At his first class, a normal hour and a half open (students of many levels) class, he put out a good effort and, although there's no competition in yoga, came up to me after class and sadly said, " That was too much for me; what can you do for me?" With most students - even those who are elderly, I would generally encourage them to try 3 or 4 classes before coming to that conclusion, but I knew that even going at a beginner's level in an open class was too much for him. After 86 years, his once-healthy body had gotten very tight, the spine had become almost rigid, completely unlike his spirit. Because of the rigidity of his spine, the strength required for even gentle stretching and strengthening of those tight muscle for the duration of a ninety minute yoga class just wasn't there.

Everything happens for a reason; each situation is an opportunity for us to open our minds, to grow and to expand our consciousness. Obviously, this wonderful eighty-six year old man with a passion to learn yoga came into my life to motivate me to extend yoga to senior citizens and those with physical limitations. People who cannot participate in regular classes need yoga, too, probably even more than do regular yoga students. So, with his question,"What can you do for me?", Gentle Yoga was born at Yoga and Inner Peace. I didn't really invent anything new, just as I haven't invented anything else in my regular classes. Yoga is an ancient science, which was developed and perfected long ago. As with the long tradition, I taught what my teacher taught to me, retaining the spirit or the essence of the practice and presenting it on a level where even those with limited mobility and strength could reap immense benefits.

At Yoga & Inner Peace we teach the Sivananda style of yoga, a very practical method that utilizes 12 basic postures which when practiced correctly works on stretching and strengthening all of the major muscle groups, particularly those around the spine. Good strength and flexibility of the muscles supporting the spine is important for good spinal health . In the Gentle Yoga we teach 10 of these same basic 12 postures in simple, easily-executed ways so that even students with extreme strength and mobility limitations can perform them. The results are most gratifying. Students whom I would have considered incapable of doing yoga are surprising both me and themselves in every class. After only two or three classes, everyone seems to open up, both physically and mentally. Transformations begin to take place.

As with a regular yoga class, Gentle Yoga is not limited to just stretching and strengthening exercises. A very strong emphasis is put on deep, abdominal yogic breathing. With this special breathing we do in yoga, the student gets about 50% more air into the lungs, resulting in the whole body receiving more oxygen. Consequently, the internal organs get rejuvenated. The extra oxygen also invigorates the muscles helping them to avoid fatigue and giving them more strength. The benefits of deep yogic breathing don't stop there. With this deep breathing, the brain gets more oxygen helping one to think more clearly, become more mentally alert and able to deal with life's problems more readily.

Parallel to the stretching, strengthening and deep breathing we place a very strong emphasis on positive thinking. All of us, not just the elderly or the physically handicapped place innumerable limitations upon ourselves just through our thinking. Our minds are so often fixed , knowing exactly what we can and can't do. A yoga class, particularly with a good teacher, is a good time to slip out of this habit. I often get a chuckle when a new students comes into the Gentle Yoga class. He or she immediately begins to tell me what he or she can't do. I stop the student immediately, telling them fine, we're not going to focus on what you can't do, only on what you can, and from now on let's not use the word "can't". If there is something you think you can't do, just be quiet about it and do the best you can. One day you will surprise yourself. I continually tell them, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you are right!"

The Networker

March, 1994

Gentle Yoga One-Hour Classes are held six times each week:

Monday Wednesday & Friday - 11 AM

Tuesday & Thursday - 9 AM

Saturday - 7:45 AM