YOGA FOR BEGINNERSThe daily poses in chapter 2 are great ones to use indi-
vidually or together to help you relieve stress. Personally,
I think Legs up the Wall works the best to relieve stress;
however, I suggest that you experiment with the poses and
meditations in order to find the perfect combination that
works for you.
If you are looking for a relaxing practice outside of your
home and this book, I would also recommend checking out
a Yin yoga or Restorative class. These are two types of passive
classes that are great at relieving stress. Yin yoga focuses on
holding stretches for long periods of time to relieve tension
in the muscles and joints. Restorative focuses on many dif-
ferent ways to relax the body. I had a teacher once describe a
Restorative class as “how many different ways can we find to
lie down.” A Restorative class is perfect to attend after a long
and stressful week.
Yoga for Those over 60
Yoga can be adapted to accommodate many of the changes
that occur in your body as you age. These accommodations
may be as simple as adding props for the poses, or they
can be more involved based on the current condition of
your health.
If you are over 60 and just beginning a yoga practice,
I recommend you seek out classes specifically meant for
beginners or look for teachers who teach a program called
“Prime of Life yoga.” This type of yoga is aimed at those in
your age group and will help you find the perfect alignment
for your body.