From the Heart
I have become even more acquainted with the importance of proper breathing and staying fit since Chuck and I began going to Yoga classes a few years ago.
I’m still struggling with some yoga poses and breathing at the same time. I find myself holding my breath. At some point in class I’m just trying to catch my breath.
After a few downward dogs and chaturangas I find that my core and other body parts are not happy with me. I collapse into a child’s pose and try to breathe without panting. But . . . I don’t give up.
I can feel and hear my heart reassuring me that I am breathing but I struggle to relax and enjoy the moment. Yet I love it. Crazy, I know.
I find Yoga challenging. It pushes my body to do what it has never done before. Chuck says it has improved his golf game. I know it has strengthened my core and helped with my flexibility and stamina. Those things are much needed as I get older and certain body parts cannot be replaced if injured or broken.
Learning the lingo of yoga has also been challenging. Doing a Vinyasa means we will be doing a sequence of poses and breathing at the same time. Not always easily done.
I have learned which body parts are going to be challenged whenever I hear certain terms. Utkatasana means chair pose. My quads will burn. Happy Baby, my buns will burn. Add the metal ring and Yikes!
In class whenever Courtney, our instructor, tells us to get in the pigeon position I am thrilled. I know it will soon be time for Savasana . . . the corpse pose. Yes, and it looks just like what it says. It’s one of my favorites. Pigeon pose is not easy. It’s like doing a squat and a split at the same time.
Now back to the breathing. We are told to breathe through our nose and to feel the breath in our throat and chest and belly. Then we are to push out the breath from the belly to the chest to the nose. I never knew breathing could be so challenging.
They say that you are as young as you feel. I look at my birthdate and have to remind myself how old I am. I honestly don’t feel it.
I love the advice that my friend, Sharon McMahon, gives in her columns. You just need to keep moving. Find something to keep you active and on the go and of course . . . breathing. 60 may not be the new 40 but keeping fit sure makes 70 something to look forward to.