How Yoga Helps

I took up yoga nearly 10 years ago after a very busy period at work. I was 48, and beginning to feel as if I was getting a bit old and permanently hunched up - in danger of growing smaller like an old person. (In retrospect 48 sounds unbelievably young for that!)

I remember walking home after my first yoga lesson - I felt as if I was walking on air. It was as if I had been a cushion that had been sat on and squashed, but someone had just picked me up and shaken me up, and I was all smoothed out. Since then I feel that the regular stretching exercises I've done in yoga have helped to counteract the natural tendency to hunch up with age (my husband who refuses to do yoga seems to be getting smaller though!)

I have had bunions and cramped-up toes since my early twenties, despite always wearing fairly sensible shoes. I visited a chiropodist, who helped relieve some of the pain from the resulting corns and callouses, but the relief was only temporary.   Jeanette included several exercises for toes in my early lessons, and I started doing them regularly at home. Although my feet still look awful by most people's standards, my toes have separated out a lot, I don't get sore corns, and I can keep the hard skin under control without the chiropodist's help. As one of our greatest pleasures is going on walking holidays, I've had miles of pain-free walking which I would previously never have expected to enjoy. The only problem is that my feet have grown even broader, so it's even more difficult (but not impossible) to find shoes that fit.

I'm a pretty sceptical person, and I think if anyone had told me that yoga would make a positive improvement to my life I would never have believed them. But I have to admit that it's helped me to be more comfortable and more mobile than I would ever have believed when I started. I am even more sceptical about the 'spiritual' side of yoga, but I think perhaps there is also some sort of consequent calming effect on the mind that comes from doing the yoga exercises.                                                                                                                                       Linda

I came to Yoga late in life, at 60, with an arthritic hip for which I was taking pain killers – after 7 years of Yoga the hip is absolutely normal and so no need of drugs.

Three years ago I broke 2 large bones – shoulder and pelvis – thanks to Yoga I now have no after effects at all.

Growing older makes one stoop when tired, but I think “Yoga” and stand tall.

In a very busy life it keeps me saner and calmer than I would be without it.                               Sandy

I resumed Yoga classes after my first baby for an evening out, relaxation and a stretch.

I also used Yoga to help me in two lots of swimming lessons – my natural inclination is to hold my breath.

After moving to Hampshire (1986) I went to several classes at Robert May’s School. After a gap, I resumed to counteract increasing stiffness and general pressures of working and family life.                                                                                                                                                 Carol B.

Yoga has helped me with both the physical and mental sides of my life. As a sufferer of osteoarthritis, whilst not as agile as a 20 year old (I wish) I can feel the wonderful benefits of yoga. As the mother of three teenage children.......need I say more?! I would introduce single nostril breathing at antenatal classes.               Val (53¾)

When I first started to attend Yoga classes I think it was probably just for the "exercise" aspect.  But I very soon discovered that  there was so much more to the experience.  I realise that I have been extremely lucky with my teachers, because, except for a short while when the club was trying to find the right person for our particular group, we have had teachers who have given us a chance to be involved much more deeply in caring for our bodies through an understanding of the importance of the mind/body connections.  

So, Yoga has helped me to find a place within myself that can "listen" to my needs, both physical and spiritual (a word I use with care!).  I will only miss a class if I am physically unable to get there, as I find the whole session so therapeutic.  I spend the hour and a half concentrating on your demands and suggestions for our bodies so that we can help ourselves to find deeper stretching, deeper relaxation and deeper understanding  of the importance of all the inter- reactions between mind and body.  I love the breathing routines that you have taught us, and when I find myself fretting over something I can gently bring myself back to a state of calmness that I thought would be difficult to find.                                                                                                                                                   Rosalind

Yoga makes me aware of my body and aware of my breathing. It helps me relax. Sometimes, it makes me feel flexible and other times I’m horrified at my inflexibility. I hope that yoga has improved my posture.                                                                                                                      Lynda (35)       

What Yoga does for me:

Physical: I have a deformed tailbone which is painful under even minimal pressure and can become inflamed. Regular yoga practice stretches and opens the hips and pelvis relieving some of the internal pressure and generally helps to manage the issue. Specific postures help, particularly when sustained pressure e.g. sitting for lengthy periods in meetings, results in pain and inflammation. Fierce posture is especially helpful.

Mental: Postures, breathing exercises and relaxation/meditation really do help to balance your outlook on all those petty issues of life. It’s noticeable when I’m “too busy” to practise yoga, just how more difficult it becomes to maintain objectivity. Molehills become mountains!

Spirituality: This is individual, but I feel more grounded, in touch with people, nature etc through yoga practice.                                                                                                Janet

-       Recognise and enjoy ways to maintain/increase flexibility – both mentally and physically. Unlike the gym (recommended for back problems) I have learnt, and continue to learn, how the mind and body can work together and how much further I can gently stretch myself using my breath and understanding of exercises and postures. I greatly enjoy the relaxation and the mental discipline, both very useful in everyday life.                                                                                                      Veronica (67)

-       Strengthen my back following a serious back problem following Chiropractic treatment, 25 years ago.

-       Maintain flexibility in my joints and strength.

-       I find it calming.                                                                                                         Mike (70)

-       Maintain flexibility, which I feel would not have been as good at my age if I had not been doing Yoga for the past 30 years.

-       Made me more aware of body posture and balance and also breathing, which makes for better living.                                                                                                 Margaret (71)

-       Relax                                                                                                                           Jayne (46)

-       Treat my body with respect and gentleness at all times, it is the only “vehicle” I’ll get!

(I could fill several sheets of paper in gratitude to yoga.)                                           Pam (66)

-       Be more conscious of tension in various parts of my body (especially neck and shoulders) and dealing with it by relaxing physically and breathing correctly.

-       Be less of a worrier, to take things more in their stride.                                 Annikki (62)

-       Manage my back problems using relaxation of back muscles.

-       Improve my posture, lengthening the back when standing and sitting.

-       Deal with any situation such as interviews, public speaking, by helping me to control my breathing, building confidence.

-       Develop a core strength and better posture, flat stomach and better legs!

-       Not dwell in the past or worry about the future but to live in the moment.

-       Keep my heart lifted and be more positive.

-       Take time out!

-       I don’t get headaches any more. I listen to my body and when I feel tension mounting in my neck I can do something about it.

-       Best of all, I use it in check-in queues or other times of frustration. I can turn these into opportunities for a treat and metaphorically stand outside the situation and let it all fade into the background whilst I watch from a distance.                           Tony G.

-       Tone and strengthen my body.

-       Slow down and enjoy life.

-       Have more flexibility as I go through life.

-       Meditate and from that become closer to God in my personal relationship with Him.

-       Improve my breathing, through exercising yogic breathing – various types – I feel more attuned to my body and my surroundings.

-       Appreciate different teachers as each brings something new to one’s own practice.

-       Practise at one’s own pace and ability and it is an exercise, way of life, a discipline for one’s entire lifetime.

-       Relax physically and mentally and to calm my emotions.

-       If I do not practise yoga at least once a week I really notice the tension building.

-       Improve and maintain flexibility and suppleness. I have no specific ailments but may be having practised yoga for over 14 years has kept me relatively fit and healthy. Long may it continue!                                                                                            Anita (56)

-       Stop my back from stiffening up too much. I have a long back and forward bending can be difficult at times. Yoga does help and I lack the self discipline to do much outside of the classes, so the summer holiday is very long and autumn term classes very welcome.                                                                                               Sue (59½)

-       Be more aware of my own body. Learn to leave worries and stress at home for 1½ hours each week and have some focussed time for myself. I do not always find it easy to focus my mind on the “here and now” of Yoga but I feel more focussed than I used to. I am always glad I have had my yoga session and feel more alert and energised afterwards, particularly after a morning class.                                  Liz M. (59)

-       Control/manage my migraines better and to relax mentally and physically after a busy day.                                                                                                                 Kathryn (42)

-       Sleep better after practice. I used breathing techniques for childbirth (no gas, air, medication). I believe it helps flexibility and standing in queues, especially at Christmas time, standing pose increases energy and calmness. I practise just for enjoyment of stretching and putting oneself to go that little bit more. Afterwards it feels beneficial.                                                                                                                Jo

-       Gain strength from a group activity in which you can set your own limits.         Mary

Loads of other things, stress, headaches, eyesight                                                      Jane (54)

-       Frozen shoulder, back to full movement and local muscles unknotted and able to relax.

-       Breathing, for almost 60 years I could not breathe through my nose, now its easy.

-       Balance, has been impaired for 12 years but improves every week with regular yoga class. 

-       Awareness of how to get the best out of the body, its needs and warnings.   Pam (66)                                  

-       Relaxation                                                                                                                         Jill (45)

-       Maintaining movement and mobility in my joints especially shoulder and back problems. It also enables me to relax better and is generally beneficial to physical and mental health.                                                                                                 Carolyn (63)

-       Back pain. When I was younger I had severe back pain periodically and had to take days off work because of it. Since doing yoga, I’m convinced it has strengthened my back muscles round my spine and I now have only a slight back problem.

-       I also believe the stretching in yoga improves posture, thus delaying the signs of age.

-       My posture.

-       Stretching the tendons in my legs.

-       Balance.

-       Awareness of my body.

-       Ensured that I maintain the maximum flexibility possible.

-       Coping with stressful situations in a more productive way.

-       My flexibility. The discipline has helped me to be conscious of my posture and I find myself correcting it – whilst sitting, driving, climbing the stairs and walking. Somebody told me they could tell I practised Yoga from the way I moved!

-       From not becoming the hunchback of Basingstoke, owing to my job, hairdressing. I spend 4½ days bent over a chair - 1½ hours per week at Yoga creates a balance or that is how I feel! The block under my head has now come down by 1” or more, so I am slowly levelling off with the floor, so it’s all very positive!!                              James

-       Relaxation – I am not a person who finds it easy to relax, but over the years have learnt how to relax to a degree before tackling problems as well as in the classroom.

-       Exercise – at my age suppleness is an advantage.                                       Helen (66)

-       learning and knowing how to relax, when I can, either through simple adjustments to my posture (especially shoulders) or lying semi-supine for 10 minutes at the end of the day

-       flexibility, especially knowing how to lengthen hamstrings and ease shoulders

-       being aware of posture and being evenly balanced when standing/sitting

-       learning to breath properly and being aware of that ‘proper’ breathing

-       coping with visits to the dentist i.e. relaxing through the intrusive work by focusing on breathing

-       appreciate the importance of an hour and a half to myself each week and not to miss it!

I think that’s it, I expect there’s more, but I might only get to realise what they were if I gave up yoga altogether and the six weeks August holidays, plus the list above, tells me that I shouldn’t do that! I also enjoy and appreciate the non-competitive nature of yoga classes; I don’t have to ‘keep up’, or dress up! Or analyse why I’m good one week and rubbish the next; it’s a real relief to lie on my mat and just have that time to focus on me, for once!