Reverse the Aging Process Through Yoga

After a six month tour of Europe I returned to Boston and took my first yoga class. The minute I completed my first class I knew that yoga would be in my life permanently. It did something to me energetically that was beyond words. As I continued to take classes the energy seemed to build. I could breathe better and I felt more flexible in my body and mind. I changed my diet to include organic vegetables and fruit. Through these simple adjustments I started to look and feel younger. After a few months of yoga joy seeped in as did creative ideas. In a word; my life would never be the same and there was no going back. That was 1980 and the beginning of my journey through the body using the science of yoga as a tool and a guide.

The minute you practice conscious breathing you’ve connected with a youthful energy. The breath is yogic energy. When you connect with yogic energy it expands into every cell of the body. You’ll know when you’ve accessed it because it moves your limbs effortlessly. You’ll be able to walk miles without breaking a sweat(unless you want to). Yogic energy(prana) separates and relaxes the cells of the body giving the skin a glow. Facial lines soften and a younger physical appearance begins to form. The more you extend into the universe(stretch into postures) the breath can penetrate the muscles and perform its magic. You will have a longer and leaner appearance through your conscious efforts.

Spirit is contained within the breath and it is spirit that gifts youth(attitude and appearance) on the individual who commits to a yoga practice. You can choose any style of yoga but it must be a practice that brings you back to yourself. The purpose of yoga is to become more present to ourselves and when we become more present we usually encounter our fears. Yoga was designed thousands of years ago to conquer fear. When fear is lodged in our physical body it keep us bound to repeat outdated patterns of behavior that no longer serve us. The breath releases these patterns and gives us the opportunity to act differently. If the self-defeating behavior continues to repeat itself then you may need further assistance through talk therapy or other healing modalities.

Yoga brings in an expanded awareness, not just spiritually but also physically. We begin to feel every sensation in our body and we notice when an area has consistent deep tension . We can then monitor and treat the area through rest or massage etc. Yoga is about awareness and healing. We have the information to adjust our yoga practice and behavior so our body can remain young, flexible, and strong. This is an opportunity not to worsen the injury through stressful repetitive movement but to bring in the energy of letting go and healing. If we injure an area through a repetitive movement we can stop executing the movement. An injury may require us to let go of a dynamic yoga practice for a while and do a more gentle practice. Through awareness the stiffness of old age does not have to over-take the body. We can remain flexible and strong regardless of chronological age.

The more we release tension from our muscles the younger we appear. Savasana (corpse pose-relaxation pose) is an essential part of a yoga practice. As yoga has developed in the US the value of savasana has been lost. If you practiced Iyengar yoga during the 1980’s corpse pose was 15 minutes, today you’re lucky to experience 5 minutes of savasana. In corpse pose the body regenerates itself, nourishing muscles and the inner organs. Toxins are released preventing a build up of free -radicals that destroy our skin and organ elasticity. Youth is not about looking 20 when you’re 60 but it is about maintaining a flexible mind and body. Staying young is about creating space within the cells of the body so the energy you’ve build on the inside can reflect in your physical appearance and when this happens you appear ageless.