November 15, 2013

6 Reasons Yoga is Better After 30. ~ Rachel Leshaw

0 Boost Score Rachel Leshaw (1,375,390)

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We all remember our first.

I was 20.

My downward dog hurt from my wrists to my Achilles’ tendons; the teacher lied and said, “good job.”

Over the following years, my practice built up steam and I slowly incorporated philosophy and meditation into it. I assumed that I had another few good years of asana (yoga postures) in me; then I’d resign to the meditation pillow with my “old” friends.

Turns out I was wrong.

Now well into my 30’s, I’m not slowing down (and neither are the practitioners next to me whom are decades older and rockin’ through fourth series).

We all just need to put in the time, logging the hours in on the mat; and this dedication to the practice will yield more balance, strength and flexibility within our poses.

Here’s Why Our Yoga Post-20’s Keeps Getting Better:

1. We get more sleep.

Our evenings are often low key and at home with our partner. We’re not traipsing around to clubs and bars trying to pick someone up. Remember how exhausting it was getting home at 2am?

Now that we’re asleep at a reasonable hour, we can commit to mysore at 7am. Or, if we’re hardcore, pranayama at 6am. Back in the day, we wouldn’t have been likely to do that if we’d just stayed up all night.

2. We can stop blaming our parents.

Sure, we all turned out a little nuts and we want to point fingers. It’s easy to blame our parents because they will love us anyway.

Now that we’re older than our parents when we were born, we realize that despite being somewhat unprepared, they did their best. We should cut them some slack.

In our post-20s we can let go of anger and accept who we are. This surrender will help give us the backbends we’ve always wanted.

3. We eat better.

Gone are the days of dumpster diving and eating whatever presented itself. Remember how much bread, pasta and donuts we used to eat?

Now that we’re out of our 20’s, and have some money, we can actually choose our food. We can buy fresh produce, organics, even gluten free; and naturally lose weight.

When our bellies are out of the way, we can twist deeper and breathe better; Marichyasana D, a hip opener with a twist named after the sage Marichi, will stop making us cringe.

4. We practice more regularly.

Have we stopped living with 6 roommates? Do our best friends live hundreds of miles away?

It always seemed so weird that our parents didn’t regularly hang out with their friends, but now that’s us. Our days are less overtly social; and with that social chunk of time freed up there’s no reason to be bored, lonely or mopey.

Now we have time to dedicate to ourself, to yoga.

5. Running hurts.

Post-30’s, did creaky knees make you stop running?

There’s another hour per day that has opened up in your schedule; time to practice.

6. We are inspired.

As we get older, our aches and pains stick around longer and inconvenience us. (I once threw out my back with the force of a sneeze and couldn’t bend for weeks).

Aging can be the added inspiration to practice with integrity and focus.

We engage mula bandha (contraction of the muscles at the base of the pelvis) before the teacher’s cue.

We focus our gaze so we’re not distracted by other people in the room.

Our daily practice is hard, but we’re willing to work to stay supple and vibrant.

The rewards are infinite. Our potential is infinite.