Cover: Yoga After 50 For Dummies by Larry Payne

Title Page

Yoga After 50 For Dummies®

To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Yoga After 50 For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

Introduction

There is an old adage that says, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” For almost four decades, I’ve dedicated my life to being such a teacher to anyone eager to learn more about Yoga. I know firsthand that the right teacher, at the right time, can make all the difference. And I also know that Yoga can profoundly reshape your life, if you want it to.

When it comes to practicing Yoga, the key is to discover a personal approach that addresses your specific needs. Whether you use this book in addition to Yoga at your neighborhood studio, with online sessions, or on your own, I wrote Yoga After 50 for Dummies specifically to address your needs — if you happen to be over 50.

About This Book

Yoga is about so much more than postures or movements. In fact, the idea of focusing on poses is a relatively modern approach. Yoga, in fact, offers a philosophy for living and attaining joy — a philosophy for living that guides almost all aspects of our life.

Of course, postures and movements, combined with proper breathing, can have a significant impact on your health. In no way do I want to diminish both the physical and mental boost that a regular Yoga practice has to offer. Certainly, the concept of Yoga therapy is based on just that. What I am suggesting, however, is that Yoga offers a lot more than exercise.

In this book, I address the physical aspects of Yoga and beyond:

  • Physical Yoga practice: I spend a good portion of this book talking to you about the physical and mental benefits of Yoga, including instructions for postures, movements, and breath work. But, more precisely, I talk to you about practicing Yoga when you’re over 50. I think it’s critical to adjust your routines to fit your body. And it’s equally important to know that such adjustments in no way diminish the fundamental concepts of Yoga practice or philosophy.
  • Yoga beyond the poses: How you live your life, the choices you make, can all be guided by Yoga principles. I share those ideas with you and suggest they just may be good for you, too!

As a matter of fact, Yoga in general should feel good to you and be good for you. If it doesn’t, and if it leads to some kind of discomfort, you may not be recognizing what your body is telling you.

Before you listen to me or any other Yoga teacher, talk to your doctor about beginning or continuing a Yoga practice (this is especially important for all of us). And, most importantly, pay attention to how you are feeling. Nobody truly knows except you.

Foolish Assumptions

Although anyone new to Yoga or anyone who wants to practice Yoga in a more user-friendly way can benefit from this book, I’m definitely focusing my attention on a segment of the population that doesn’t get enough attention in the Yoga community: people 50 and up.

As a Yoga therapist who’s been working with clients for decades, I know firsthand that people benefit from simple movement and easy breathing. You don’t have to do the hardest poses or the most rigorous routines to receive the health benefits from Yoga. I want you to start with what feels good for your body and your mind, and you should make that your ongoing goal as your Yoga practice evolves.

While writing this book, I assumed that you fall into one of the following categories:

  • Yoga is something you’re only thinking about trying. You’ve heard of the numerous health benefits a regular Yoga routine can provide but are reluctant to start because you think you’re not flexible enough or that maybe Yoga is something for the younger generation. Neither of these things is true, and such concerns are actually the very reason you should jump in.
  • Yoga is something that has been a part of your life for a while. But just like professional athletes discover their body changes as they age (usually, about age 40), you’re also experiencing some physical changes that require you to alter your Yoga practice to still reap the benefits.

With that in mind, my objective is to show you ways that Yoga can benefit you at any age. So, if you haven’t started practicing Yoga, now is a perfect time to start. If Yoga has been a part of your life for a while, you can keep practicing, even as your body changes. In both cases, I want to help.

If you want a more comprehensive view of Yoga and many of its traditional principles, you can also check out my previous book, Yoga For Dummies (Wiley).

Icons Used in This Book

Several icons are used throughout the margins of this book:

Tip This icon identifies special tips that you would typically get from your Yoga teacher.

Remember You should keep in mind certain things whenever you’re doing a particular pose or activity.

Warning Yoga should not lead to injury. Pay attention to the warnings, which are intended to keep you safe.

Beyond the Book

If you like to get your information in slightly smaller bites, be sure to check out my access-anywhere articles on the web. I take some of the most important concepts from this book and include them in these stand-alone articles that will hopefully reinforce some of my messages and also make important information even more accessible. You can find these cheat sheets online at www.dummies.com. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Yoga After 50 For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

Where to Go from Here

Keep in mind that when it comes to Yoga, there’s no simple story to tell with a beginning and an end. In fact, the reason it’s called a Yoga practice is because that is exactly what we all do … we practice. Although I do outline some basic principles in the first few chapters of this book that should be important to anyone, you should view this book as a guide that you can refer to again and again.

Within the chapters of this book, I have interwoven a series of general Yoga routines that, from my almost-40 years of teaching and training, I’ve discovered to be particularly beneficial to the 50 and over Yogi. You’ll also find routines that are directed toward certain conditions common to the 50 and up crowd.

If you’re already experienced in the basics, you may want to jump to one of the chapters that holds particular relevance to you — perhaps even to the routines toward the end of the book.

In any case, remember that making modifications is the key to practicing Yoga year after year. Even the greatest of Yoga masters practiced differently as they aged. And, in many cases, it’s only when we practice as older adults that we discover for ourselves that Yoga is more than just another form of exercise.

Part 1

The Age of Yoga

IN THIS PART …

Discover Yoga as a physical practice.

Embrace the importance of modifying a pose.

Identify everything you need to get started.

Explore your breath and new ways to breathe.