Tag Archives: yoga for seniors

February 18, 2022 · 5:02 pm

Stars for the Day

The Pet Collective – Tenor

My husband said I deserved a star for the day when I finished my yoga practice a few minutes ago. :0)

I’m really trying hard with it after NOT doing it for way too long. My poor body has stiffened up. I finally started it again because I really didn’t feel well. I was waking up in the middle of the night with my hips hurting, etc. In other words, I was paying for my sloth and had to re-teach myself that yoga is important to my health.

I’ve been doing it this week. The first time, I really had trouble and was cracking and popping like the old Rice Krispies Cereal. Do they even make that anymore? I’ll have to check. I’m still having trouble, but I’m doing a bit better each time.

I’m only doing old lady yoga with lots of good stretches in all directions and a concentration on relaxing into each position, rather than standing on my head or folding myself into a paper airplane. I feel looser when I finish and am hoping I can sleep through the night soon.

The fact that my husband has noticed and approves of my efforts means a lot. I gave myself a silver sparkly star on my desk calendar today. In fact, I gave myself two – one for the yoga and the other because I’m starting to get the lard off again, being down 2.5 lbs this week.

Onward and downward!

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April 3, 2018 · 11:03 am

Creaky

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Since I’ve been feeling really creaky lately, I’ve been trying to do a session of “Yoga for Old Broads” each day.

(This is actually “Gentle Yoga” via Sixty & Me  designed for people like me, who always wanted to try yoga but were intimidated, who have health issues, who are 60 and over, etc. This is a pair of DVDs by teacher Cat Kabira, a wonderful lady who makes you feel that whatever you can do to TRY to get into the poses is doing helpful to stretch out your muscles, make you more flexible, feel stronger, and move more easily without nearly as much discomfort.

I actually have the 2 DVD set plus a second one in the same series, with yoga practices for each day of the week.

Right now, since I’ve really been sore and almost POP when I get up or sit down, I’ve been concentrating on just doing some of the poses on my mat by myself, at a really slow speed, just trying to relax into the poses, breathing into them and feeling my muscles finally ‘give.’

If you are also feeling creaky, I encourage you to go to their website and order the set of videos. You’ll be amazed how much better you’ll feel.

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March 1, 2018 · 7:03 pm

Folding Myself into a Paper Airplane – Reprise

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Even though I’ve been working hard the past two months cleaning out 30+ years of ‘stuff’ in my house, apparently I haven’t been moving my body well. It’s letting me know loudly and clearly. I’ve been particularly stiff and sore the past couple of weeks.

Today I did 30 minutes on my elliptical out in the garage. I came back into the office a few minutes ago after doing about 20 minutes or so of stretching poses in the living room. (Our two dogs think I’m playing, so I have to pen them up in the office with my husband before even thinking of getting down on the floor. :0) )

I had been doing pretty well with two DVDs I purchased called, “Gentle Yoga.” These are designed for people who are old like I am and have never done yoga before. The teacher is wonderful. She is very straight forward, gives you lots of choices, and mainly stresses that if you’re TRYING to stretch in the proper way, the poses will do you some good. She tells you how important it is that you get on the mat every day, even if only for a short time. I didn’t really believe her, so now I’m paying the price.

Today I had trouble even lying on my back without pain. I remembered to take things really slowly, breathing into the pain, trying to relax. FINALLY, my back eased. I did this with each of the changes in pose I made. I don’t think I’m as stiff as I was before I started the good DVDs, but I’ve lost a lost of flexibility I had gained. A lesson learned.

I feel pretty good now. I’m very happy that I stretched slowly and carefully, taking my time, easing into new positions and listening to my body. I could actually FEEL my body finally letting go!

So this is DAY ONE of my folding myself into a paper airplane practice. I’ll do several more days of just stretching on my own and then I’ll start the DVDs again. I can only get better from here!

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November 30, 2016 · 4:22 pm

Folding Myself Into a Paper Airplane – Take 8

yoga-mybassetdog-blogspot-com

mybassetdog-blogspot.com

My yoga practice today finally gave me relief from some sore muscles I had in my lower back and right hip from my last leaf mulching marathon! My body tells me to just sit quietly, maybe take a nap, when I hurt. My head is learning new ways to cope with pain, stretching and breathing into the stretches via yoga positions. I’m making progress!

I just finished the session on “Legs” and then the “Overall Flow” session and I feel relaxed and free of pain. Part of me worries that this will only last for a short while, but that’s the old me. The new me knows that the stronger and more flexible I become, the less I’ll have problems with sore muscles. I just need to do some yoga EVERY DAY, even if it’s only for one lesson.

Now – if I can just keep from eating after I treat myself to my orange dream bar, I’ll have it made. All appendages are crossed – including my eyes – that I’ll manage to keep my mouth shut, except for drinking more water, tonight!

One day at a time.

taolife.com

taolife.com

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November 18, 2016 · 6:05 pm

Folding Myself into a Paper Airplane – Take 7

You Tube

You Tube

At Lunch Bunch today, I told my friends that I had discovered an inflexible thing I didn’t even know I had – the fact that I can’t lie on my back and put my arms up over my head touching the floor.

They both reacted that they were going to go home and try it because they didn’t know if they could do it, either.

Today I did “Legs” and “Overall Flow” on the “Gentle Yoga” DVD set. The legs is one of the harder sections for me. The back of my legs needs a LOT of stretching, I find. I think I did a bit better today, though, and I’m learning to breathe into the strain, causing my body to eventually ‘give’ a bit more.

I definitely feel more relaxed when I finish the two sessions each day. I’m able to get up from that, drink some water, and then I’m ready to go on with my day, rather than having to crash, take a nap, or similar – a definite improvement.

I’ll have to let you know if doing yoga every day impresses the tape measure. Time will tell.

Even if it doesn’t, I FEEL better. I’m sleeping better that last couple of nights. I feel looser when I move. It’s hard to describe, but I’m more aware of my CORE moving, where it has just been ‘along-for-the-ride’ for as long as I can remember.

I’m not dreading going into the living room to exercise now – also a definite improvement.

I may never get to the point where I’m really good at yoga, but trying sure seems to be helping me.

GrowingBolder. com via Cathy Ruggiero

GrowingBolder. com via Cathy Ruggiero

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November 11, 2016 · 12:55 pm

Happy Friday

The Quirky Pineapple

The Quirky Pineapple

We went to Lunch Bunch today and everyone was doing fine. We got caught up with what’s happening with everyone, then ran a couple of errands.

Now my husband is reloading ammo in the shop while I work in the yard.

I have six planters left to clean out today, and then I’ll add mulch to all.  Thankfully, we have another perfect day for working in the yard.

 

Flickr.org

Flickr.org

When I finish, I’m hoping to do the last section in my DVD set of yoga for old folks (they call it “Gentle Yoga”, a much more tactful name.). I’m really grateful I found this set of 2 DVDs. It’s focus is on people who have never done yoga before, are 60 and older, and who might have flexibility issues, have had surgery for joint replacements and more, or who might be intimidated. I’ve been trying new sections for the past two weeks and I’m always glad I did some poses with the really nice instructor.

My plan, now, is to do at least one section each day. There are 7 sections, so I’ll be able to get around to all parts of my body in the week.

The weather is perfect for my being more active, so I plan to take advantage of it as much as possible.

I hope the weather is nice where you are, and that you’re enjoying the day.

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October 29, 2016 · 2:32 pm

Folding Myself into a Paper Airplane – Take 2

AskIdeas.com

AskIdeas.com

I told you that I recently received my set of 2 DVDs called, “Gentle Yoga”, especially geared toward people 6o and above. I was still wondering if this would work for me when I listened to the introduction and then tried the section for “Head, Neck, and Shoulders” a couple of days ago. I found that I was able to do everything the teacher asked, realizing that as I practice, I should be able to stretch better and better, breathing into each movement.

I had to miss yesterday because I wanted to finish my purging/reorganizing/and deep cleaning our master bathroom project.

I tried the section on “Joints” today. This concentrated on ankles, knees, hips, wrists, shoulders, neck, and spine. Although I could hear parts of my body snap, crackle and popping like the proverbial cereal, I was again able to keep up with the teacher. We always end up lying on our backs, trying to fully relax.

Today I had some trouble relaxing after doing all the exercises. My back was tight and painful, and I had to concentrate on relaxing enough to lie flat. After a couple of minutes I was able to lie perfectly flat with no pain and was able to relax fully. This time I knew I could trust her to start talking again at the end of the relaxing time or play some music or something, so I was able to relax even more than I did the last time, once my back allowed.

I had more trouble getting up off the floor after the practice than I did doing any of the exercises. :0)

I am really encouraged by the DVDs and the teacher so far. She emphasizes that this is all an ongoing process, not something to be accomplished. No one cares if you can touch your toes or not (thank goodness!) or how far you can bend or stretch. As long as you do what you can, you benefit. You end up feeling more relaxed and in touch with parts of your body – some of which you didn’t realize you had!

I’m planning to try the next section – for the lower back – tomorrow.  I – who am probably the most sedentary old lady on the planet – am actually looking forward to it!

cliparting.com

cliparting.com

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