Finding Your Way to Yoga by YOGAWITHKIMMI

Can a 74-year-old benefit from practising yoga?

My answer is a resounding YES!

 In fact, it is the best starting point for someone who wants to get into fitness or improve their health if the gym feels intimidating. In its most basic sense, yoga is simply connecting the practitioner with the divine through movement...similar to performing Salaah in Islam. Simply put, it is mindful and conscious movement through stretching.

 The philosophy of yoga focuses on the Niyamas, meaning personal observances or insights into the attitude we should have when relating to ourselves:

• Saucha (Purity): This refers to the purity of body, mind, and environment. Through yoga asanas, we move our bodies and allow them to release toxins by sweating, while pranayama (breathwork) helps cleanse our lungs, oxygenate our blood, and calm our nerves. However, it doesn't only mean focusing on the physical; we should also keep the mind clean by being aware of our thoughts and what we listen to, read, or watch. We should even be mindful of the cleanliness and feng shui of our environment.
• Santosa (Contentment): To me, this is one of the most important Niyamas for someone worried about the stiffness of their body. A common problem I see is practitioners forgetting this and becoming concerned with thoughts like, “I shouldn’t be this stiff,” or “I’ve been doing yoga for so long and I still can't do this pose.” This Niyama reminds us that life isn’t about constantly looking forward, but stopping to appreciate how far we have come. Even if you have only been practising for three days, look back and congratulate yourself for sticking to it.
• Tapas (Discipline): You might be thinking about food, but Tapas actually means to be disciplined. It is the practice of tempering our desire for instant results and having the patience to slow down, pay attention, and rightly direct the flame of ambition within us.
• Svadhyaya (Self-Reflection): This might look like a complicated term, but it simply means self-study (Sva means self and Adhyaya means inquiry). Once we have disciplined ourselves and accepted where we are, we can reflect, not with judgement, but with love. We look back on our progress and ask ourselves what we think of our journey so far.
• Isvara Pranidhana (Surrender): Lastly, we surrender to the divine. This is the practice of trusting our spirit, connecting to the divine, and attuning ourselves to our role within creation and divine guidance.

To reaffirm, yes, a 74-year-old (or anyone else no matter your age) can absolutely benefit from yoga. It is a wonderful path for those seeking to improve their lives not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually.

I invite you to join me YOGAWITHKIMMI on this journey... and always remember it is never too late to start.