There's Always Another Train

“There’s another train. There always is. Maybe the next one is yours.”
— Pete Morton

A lovely song lyric played in my New Year's Day yoga class.

With regard to yoga and so much else, opportunities come along regularly. They may always be there. Miss one. Wait patiently, with earnest desire. Another will come by.

Here is a story about yoga taught in prisons. For those taking the classes in prison, perhaps they can feel some sense of opportunity presenting itself.  Another train.

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is not gymnastics or calisthenics or contortion. I teach yoga that is gentle, calming, helpful, fun and comforting.

Can anyone do yoga?

Yes!

I studied "chair yoga" with Lakshmi Volker, creator of the "Get Fit Where you Sit"  chair program. I incorporate many of the great techniques of this method  in my teaching.

In my studies I learned that individuals with disabilities, weight challenges, inflexibility, or those who just cannot get on the floor for whatever reason, can benefit from a practice of yoga on a chair.  The chair replaces the yoga mat and becomes an extension of your body, allowing you to take full advantage of yoga’s benefits for  fitness, overall health and relaxation.  Even if you are in a wheelchair, you can receive the many benefits of chair yoga. It is the integration of body, mind, and spirit that helps the yoga practitioner feel well.

A Lovely Time

I work in an assisted living facility. I lead activities including current events discussions, name-that-tune sessions with dancing of course and an open art studio period. I also do a seated yoga class once a week. We start with attention to breath and a bit of meditation. The movement is gentle with options for more or less effort. The only rule being, no pain.

It is a lovely time. I believe that the attendees truly love it. Today one of my dear friends, a student in the class, after class was done said, "Oh, this is is just so wonderful. I feel so much better now. It is much better than aspirin."

It is, indeed.

Sit With Yoga

Here begins my exploration and continuous explanation of what that means to me.

Some history.

I was a girl in a time and place when athleticism by the likes of me was not celebrated. But, I found it for myself in the snow on the ski slopes and then running, through my twenties and to the starting line of a marathon at my fortieth birthday, and beyond. Always high on exertion, I continued to run and got on my bicycle and rode and then swam across lakes and dabbled in the pursuit of short triathlons.

In the meantime a nagging low back problem was not to be ignored. I tried many, many remedies. After over two years, after reaching a point where the limitations to my activity, including just walking, were not acceptable, I found myself in surgery. I was lucky. The outcome was good.

After the surgery, as means of recovery, I turned to yoga.