Page 33 - Seniors Today -Volume no1

fortable body can only house an uncom- Having said that, ask yourself why you didn’t
fortable mind. The most harmful decisions like Yoga when you tried it. Was the teacher not
seniors make is to stop socialising and being customising it enough for your level and body
part of their community events. This leads capacity? Was it too slow or too discouraging to
them to stop taking basic necessary physical ever attempt again? Were you receptive enough
efforts required in grooming, walking etc. to make a lifestyle change at that point? Was it too
which spirals into sedentary lifestyles, anxi- ‘spiritual’ for a logical mind like yours? Did you
ety, memory loss and joint pain. simply not like or understand the teacher’s in-
structions or felt their knowledge was lacking?
All religions indirectly enforce abstinence
or some effort to reach holy places to help Whatever your reasons to discontinue were, Yoga
strengthen our will power. So, one way or an- needs patience, effort, willingness and consis-
other, our rigidity in mental attitudes to resist tency. If any of this was missing from your end,
or not prioritise exercise, reflects in the rigidi- it would have felt like tasting a bite from a buffet
ty that sets in the body. and deciding the catering is not up to the mark.

Is exercise needed as I age? Beyond this, Yoga may still not be your choice of
Exercise is needed at every stage of our lives. movement. There are lovely, safer options such as
The type, intensity and duration changes. In Walking, Qigong Tai Chi, Aqua therapy, Laugh-
fact, the more we advance in age, the more ter Clubs, Dance, Heritage and Religious Walks,
necessary it becomes to keep ourselves mov- Pilgrimages, Errands to the bank, Grocery Shop-
ing to avoid muscle atrophy (deterioration of ping, Household Chores, Gardening, light active
muscles due to lack of use). sports such as Table Tennis, Golf, Swimming or
anything that makes your body move and makes
Does age matter or can we all be young at you sleep with a sense of accomplishment and
heart? sweet exhaustion.
I’m the first to advocate to my age group when
I hear laments like “Oh, we’re old now” that Here’s hoping more seniors look forward to their
age is just a number. But after 60 there are mornings and find their post Yoga-class smile.
some realities about the physical body that
should be honoured. The joints needn’t be Next issue: Pranayams and Yoga Basics
unnecessarily taxed unless you have been
active all your life, followed a healthy diet and
have strong surrounding muscles. So, unless
you have marathoning goals as a challenge for
yourself, running, weight training etc could
be avoided. If you wish to try a new workout,
let your body guide you. If it feels more pain-
ful than pleasant, maybe it’s not what you
need.

I tried Yoga and didn’t like it. What alter-
natives are safe and beneficial for me?

Firstly, not everyone has to enjoy Yoga in-
stantly or ever. It is perfectly natural to have
a personal preference that motivates you to
exercise.
Exercise is needed at every stage of life
SENIORS TODAY | Volume 1 | Issue 1