RE: Suggestions for elderly man's back problems?

[Guest guest]

He is not too old to start yoga - you can never be too old to start yoga.

No need to give him 'psuedo-asanas' - give him proper asanas. Focus on

getting him to breathe into the poses.

I'm not suggesting he starts with ashtanga, but there are many gentle forms

that suit older bodies very well.

Like any beginner, he will find that the improvement curve is very rapid at

the beginning, and therefore very rewarding.

I would only suggest you take two principles from Ashtanga - one, to

practice daily, and two, to keep practising even when the body hurts: find

the point of pain and back off slightly. Its the same principles that all

ashtangis should follow.

 

In fact, yoga can be more beneficial for older bodies, giving flexibility

and strength, and mental well-being. Why should those benefits be the

preserve of the young ?

 

One of my inspirations was Gwendoline Hunt, still practising in her '70s,

and I have pictures of Vanda Scaravelli in her '90s doing really extreme

twists and bends.

 

I think there is a book 'Yoga for People over 50' which I expect you can get

from Amazon.

 

The biggest problem is his mental resistance to it, because he (and

obviously those around him) think that yoga is only for the young and

already flexible.

 

Get him a mat ASAP !

 

Annie (aged 58 !)

 

 

-

" w_cottrell " <w_cottrell

<ashtangayoga >

Saturday, July 07, 2007 3:50 PM

ashtanga yoga Suggestions for elderly man's back problems?

 

 

> Hi there,

> My Dad is developing a slight stoop in his upper back and I wondered if

> anyone had suggestions to help. I don't think he's about to start yoga

> (he's 64), but is there some pseudo-asanas he might try to help remedy

> it?

>

> Will

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Will,

 

Best if he saw an experienced teacher to tailor something to his needs. Its

said that Ashtanga should not be practiced in its entirety by the over 50's

if they have never practiced before. But this does not mean they cannot have

a practice. The most important asana being the finishing sequence. But this

is still to much for most. Its important someone who knows what they are

doing can work with his body to give him something thats beneficial to him.

I would say Surya Namaskara A or gentle variations of it would straighten

out his back if practiced with gentle consistency every day. You can get

good books on yoga for the over 50's with lots of asana variations. But

again, someone who knows what they are doing should really work with him, if

thats what he wants.

 

mart

 

 

> " w_cottrell " <w_cottrell

>ashtangayoga

>ashtangayoga

>ashtanga yoga Suggestions for elderly man's back problems?

>Sat, 07 Jul 2007 14:50:41 -0000

>

>Hi there,

>My Dad is developing a slight stoop in his upper back and I wondered if

>anyone had suggestions to help. I don't think he's about to start yoga

>(he's 64), but is there some pseudo-asanas he might try to help remedy

>it?

>

>Will

>

 

_______________

Tell MSN about your most memorable emails! http://www.emailbritain.co.uk/

[Guest guest]

Hello, Mart, I'm a 52 year old male who began

practicing Ashtanga about 9 months ago. Though I have

not completed the entire practice yet, I intend to in

good time. I live in a rural area and have been

learning exclusively with home practice along with

email tips and encouragement from my sister-in-law who

is a yoga teacher in London. I am curious as to who

says that " over 50's " should not practice Ashtanga. We

are all distinct individuals with different talents,

capabilities and needs. There is nothing wrong with

setting out to accomplish goals that others may feel

are beyond our grasp. Peace, Jim

 

 

 

______________________________\

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[Guest guest]

well Jois has said " ashtanga yoga for everyone, but don't bother after 70 " .

 

 

Jim Ott <jkott22 wrote: Hello, Mart,

I'm a 52 year old male who began

practicing Ashtanga about 9 months ago. Though I have

not completed the entire practice yet, I intend to in

good time. I live in a rural area and have been

learning exclusively with home practice along with

email tips and encouragement from my sister-in-law who

is a yoga teacher in London. I am curious as to who

says that " over 50's " should not practice Ashtanga. We

are all distinct individuals with different talents,

capabilities and needs. There is nothing wrong with

setting out to accomplish goals that others may feel

are beyond our grasp. Peace, Jim

 

________

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.

Answers - Check it out.

http://answers./dir/?link=list & sid=396545469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.

 

 

[Guest guest]

I am sorry i did not make myself clear. I did not mean to say one cannot

practice yoga over 50. One can start practicing yoga at anytime of life in

any state of health. But as with anyone it is advisable to listen to your

body and proceed with relevance to yourself. Perhaps i was trying to

generalise in saying one who is older and unaccustomed to physical exercise

should proceed with more caution than one who is young and very flexible and

accustomed to running/jumping about etc. Perhaps that was a misleading

comment. As everyone should be mindful in practice. Its great that you have

discovered Ashtanga. All the best to you.

 

mart.

 

>Jim Ott <jkott22

>ashtangayoga

>ashtangayoga

>ashtanga yoga Re: Suggestions for elderly man's back problems?

>Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:40:39 -0700 (PDT)

>

>Hello, Mart, I'm a 52 year old male who began

>practicing Ashtanga about 9 months ago. Though I have

>not completed the entire practice yet, I intend to in

>good time. I live in a rural area and have been

>learning exclusively with home practice along with

>email tips and encouragement from my sister-in-law who

>is a yoga teacher in London. I am curious as to who

>says that " over 50's " should not practice Ashtanga. We

>are all distinct individuals with different talents,

>capabilities and needs. There is nothing wrong with

>setting out to accomplish goals that others may feel

>are beyond our grasp. Peace, Jim

>

>

>

>_____________________________\

_____

>Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.

> Answers - Check it out.

>http://answers./dir/?link=list & sid=396545469

 

_______________

Win tickets to the sold out Live Earth concert! http://liveearth.uk.msn.com

[Guest guest]

ashtangayoga , Jim Ott <jkott22 wrote:

>

> Hello, Mart, I'm a 52 year old male who began

> practicing Ashtanga about 9 months ago. Though I have

> not completed the entire practice yet, I intend to in

> good time. I live in a rural area and have been

> learning exclusively with home practice along with

> email tips and encouragement from my sister-in-law who

> is a yoga teacher in London. I am curious as to who

> says that " over 50's " should not practice Ashtanga. We

> are all distinct individuals with different talents,

> capabilities and needs. There is nothing wrong with

> setting out to accomplish goals that others may feel

> are beyond our grasp. Peace, Jim

>

>

>

> Hi Jim So glad to hear you are practicing this incredible form of

Yoga. I'm curious about your home practice. I've been doing home

practice also and have created a yoga collective in my town. We get

together 2 or 3 times a week and are guided by video, or audio tape.

Either Richard Freeman's Primary Series, or David Swenson's Primary

Series. It has helped all of us remain more consistent with our

practice. Namaste, Suzanne__

______________________________\

__

> Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who

knows. Answers - Check it out.

> http://answers./dir/?link=list & sid=396545469

>

[Guest guest]

After a year of Iyengar class at the local community college I joined my

wife at the local Ashtanga studio. I was 67 and can say age is not a barrier

if one listens to his or her body, doesn't rush and hopefully has a

competent teacher. In my case I was in decent physical shape from lots of

aerobic exercise (swim/bike/run) but that background also meant I have a

tight back and some of the tightest hamstrings in existence.

 

Despite that, over the past year+ i have worked my way thru half primary and

am working on the rest. I will be the first to admit there are many asanas

where I use 'alternative' positions as shown in the David Swenson book (I

highly recommend it for those who are flexibility challenged) as it shows

several options for most poses.

 

My wife is well into second series so our practices are dramatically

different in content, but I get as much joy out of my practice as she do

with hers, despite my physical limitations.

 

--

enn

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hello Jim, my name is Daniela and I live in Mexico. Many years ago I attended

the GFU and there took yoga classes daily from 5-7 am. I liked it a lot and kept

this routine for probably ten years . Also became vegetarian then and still am.

Then I started meditating and became too busy at work so yoga was left aside.

Now I am 57 and started with some yoga through TV and lately went back to the

GFU where they still keep the SAME routine that we did back then. Well I do like

it but it also seems a bit stale in the sense that new asanas or routines would

we welcomed (at least by me) and so I looked yoga in the net and thus came upon

this ashanta group but sstill don't know what kind of yoga this ashanta is?

could you or anybody explain a bit more? Thanks. Daniela

[Guest guest]

Ed,

would you mind to tell me a little about your motivation to change

from Iyengar to Ashtanga.

 

I have myself been doing Ashtanga for 2years and was considering

Iyengar to help me with the flexibility challenge (mostly backbending

and tight shoulders) using the props.

 

Namaste

René

 

On 13-Jul-07, at 11:08 AM, Ed Nobis wrote:

 

> After a year of Iyengar class at the local community college I

> joined my

> wife at the local Ashtanga studio. I was 67 and can say age is not

> a barrier

> if one listens to his or her body, doesn't rush and hopefully has a

> competent teacher. In my case I was in decent physical shape from

> lots of

> aerobic exercise (swim/bike/run) but that background also meant I

> have a

> tight back and some of the tightest hamstrings in existence.

>

> Despite that, over the past year+ i have worked my way thru half

> primary and

> am working on the rest. I will be the first to admit there are many

> asanas

> where I use 'alternative' positions as shown in the David Swenson

> book (I

> highly recommend it for those who are flexibility challenged) as it

> shows

> several options for most poses.

>

> My wife is well into second series so our practices are dramatically

> different in content, but I get as much joy out of my practice as

> she do

> with hers, despite my physical limitations.

>

> --

> enn

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hello, Suzanne and all others who replied to my email.

Like Ed, who took up yoga at a later age, I had a

physically active background (can identify with those

tight hamstrings), but a few years ago I was struck

with an illness involving immune and detoxification

issues. I came across Ashtanga after Googling " healing

yoga'. I had dabbled with yoga in the past, but

immediately felt a connection as soon as I began the

Primary Series. It just felt right. I also became a

vegetarian to aid in my healing. As far as my home

practice, I started with a DVD, " Ashtanga Yoga

Beginners Practice " by Nicki Doane. While this

provides very clear instruction, I felt less

constricted working at my own pace and now rely on

David Swenson's " Practice Manual " for guidance along

with advice on my form from my wife, who practices

hatha yoga. I soon hope to be able to attend a class

at least once a week in Austin, TX. Can anyone can

offer advice on a good program there? I know David

Swenson is based in Austin, but he travels extensively

and only occasionally teaches workshops there. Also,

Daniela, there are many others in this group more

qualified than I to give you background on Ashtanga.

Look for writings by Pattabhi Jois, the master, or the

before mentioned David Swenson for guidance. Thank you

all, Jim

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

ashtangayoga , daniela alvarado <albayuri2007

wrote:

>

> Hello Jim, my name is Daniela and I live in Mexico. Many years ago I

attended the GFU and there took yoga classes daily from 5-7 am. I liked

it a lot and kept this routine for probably ten years . Also became

vegetarian then and still am. Then I started meditating and became too

busy at work so yoga was left aside. Now I am 57 and started with some

yoga through TV and lately went back to the GFU where they still keep

the SAME routine that we did back then. Well I do like it but it also

seems a bit stale in the sense that new asanas or routines would we

welcomed (at least by me) and so I looked yoga in the net and thus came

upon this ashanta group but sstill don't know what kind of yoga this

ashanta is? could you or anybody explain a bit more? Thanks. Daniela

>Hello daniela my self swami shnkaranand from india i just try to

explain you about the ashtang yog. it is a kind of yoga for yog theyoga

and the yog is different this ashtang yoga is helpful you to connect

yourself in yog. yog means to connect yourself with the god the creator

of the world.if you need any details then you welcome and mail me

thanks

[Guest guest]

Hey Mart! You never let on how old YOU are!

Loads of good advice from all directions. I think it all has a lot to do

with who you are and where you¹re coming from. I imagine that anyone

whatever age who takes up ashtanga is probably fairly physically active to

begin with. I cannot imagine that all that bending & stretching and leaping

about would appeal to anyone of sedentary tendencies. Probably many of the

people who come to the practice later are looking specifically for a

physically intensive practice and have a history of athletic activity, dance

or whatever. I know sedentary teenagers and twenty year olds who have

difficulty getting up the steps leading to the door of my house, so all this

is relative.

I continue to believe that the satisfaction of doing ashtanga practice (at

least for me) is in a very special kind of physical exertion which, when you

get it right, on your own terms, unlocks other degrees of perception. I¹ve

always been useless at sitting still and meditating ­ my mind goes into

spirals of parallel activity. Tom said that if you only practice

intermittently everything snaps back and gets stiffer ­ that¹s scary but it

makes sense. So maybe it¹s better to do a gentler practice but keep going,

not stop. I find this is the hardest since I stopped going to classes for

economic reasons but it is much more satisfying to at least do a minimum

everyday ­ and easier. I find that if I can only make it as far as my mat

and get into surya A it then gets very hard to stop going all the way

through my habitual sequence even when I¹m an hour late for wherever it was

I was supposed to be.

Someone else said that if you are only doing the standing poses you

concentrate on strength and resistance and not flexibility. What about the

finishing sequence? And do you mean body and mind? Does that mean an

inflexible mindset as well? I liked P. Olof¹s comment that knees are only

hinges. Sometimes I wish it was possible to insert a little D40 oil to ease

it up! The hinges get a bit dry and rusty after years of use.

As regards back problems, I think elderly is a state of mind more than

anything else. When I was twenty I remember having back problems which I

attempted to solve by lying down for a week. Thirty years later when that

happens, I go to an acupuncturist, apply some heat and start doing surya A

without jumping. This usually solves the problem in a couple of days. A

friend here said that after ten, twenty, thirty you get to the age of the

Condor ­ a pun as ŒCom dor¹ in Portuguese means with pain. Maybe another

problem is that global capitalism constantly tries to convince us that we

should never feel any pain ­ that if we do, there is some expensive remedy

to cure it, instantly of course. Rusty hinges usually work better if you

move them regularly ... part of the knowing yourself is also overcoming

fear and understanding that no-one is coming to save you but there are a lot

of people out there in the same predicament.

 

Cheers to all

 

Vik

[Guest guest]

On 7/17/07 6:36 PM, " Victoria Birkbeck " <vik wrote:

 

>

>

>

>

> Hey Mart! You never let on how old YOU are!

> Loads of good advice from all directions. I think it all has a lot to do

> with who you are and where you¹re coming from. I imagine that anyone

> whatever age who takes up ashtanga is probably fairly physically active to

> begin with. I cannot imagine that all that bending & stretching and leaping

> about would appeal to anyone of sedentary tendencies. Probably many of the

> people who come to the practice later are looking specifically for a

> physically intensive practice and have a history of athletic activity, dance

> or whatever. I know sedentary teenagers and twenty year olds who have

> difficulty getting up the steps leading to the door of my house, so all this

> is relative.

> I continue to believe that the satisfaction of doing ashtanga practice (at

> least for me) is in a very special kind of physical exertion which, when you

> get it right, on your own terms, unlocks other degrees of perception. I¹ve

> always been useless at sitting still and meditating ­ my mind goes into

> spirals of parallel activity. Tom said that if you only practice

> intermittently everything snaps back and gets stiffer ­ that¹s scary but it

> makes sense. So maybe it¹s better to do a gentler practice but keep going,

> not stop. I find this is the hardest since I stopped going to classes for

> economic reasons but it is much more satisfying to at least do a minimum

> everyday ­ and easier. I find that if I can only make it as far as my mat

> and get into surya A it then gets very hard to stop going all the way

> through my habitual sequence even when I¹m an hour late for wherever it was

> I was supposed to be.

> Someone else said that if you are only doing the standing poses you

> concentrate on strength and resistance and not flexibility. What about the

> finishing sequence? And do you mean body and mind? Does that mean an

> inflexible mindset as well? I liked P. Olof¹s comment that knees are only

> hinges. Sometimes I wish it was possible to insert a little D40 oil to ease

> it up! The hinges get a bit dry and rusty after years of use.

> As regards back problems, I think elderly is a state of mind more than

> anything else. When I was twenty I remember having back problems which I

> attempted to solve by lying down for a week. Thirty years later when that

> happens, I go to an acupuncturist, apply some heat and start doing surya A

> without jumping. This usually solves the problem in a couple of days. A

> friend here said that after ten, twenty, thirty you get to the age of the

> Condor ­ a pun as ŒCom dor¹ in Portuguese means with pain. Maybe another

> problem is that global capitalism constantly tries to convince us that we

> should never feel any pain ­ that if we do, there is some expensive remedy

> to cure it, instantly of course. Rusty hinges usually work better if you

> move them regularly ... part of the knowing yourself is also overcoming

> fear and understanding that no-one is coming to save you but there are a lot

> of people out there in the same predicament.

>

> Cheers to all

>

> Vik

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Great post, Vic - I would only add that some days it is fine just to do 3

'A' and 3'B' and 3 finishing asanas.

Some days that's all I have time to do, or sometimes the inclination /

motivation just isn't there, but if I can just do that, the very basic, it

keeps everything 'connected' and next time I do a stronger, longer practice

it is so much easier.

In other words, just a little every day is better than nothing at all.

Annie

-

" Victoria Birkbeck " <vik

<ashtangayoga >

Monday, July 23, 2007 9:57 PM

Re: ashtanga yoga Re: Suggestions for elderly man's back

problems?

 

 

 

 

 

On 7/17/07 6:36 PM, " Victoria Birkbeck " <vik wrote:

 

>

>

>

>

> Hey Mart! You never let on how old YOU are!

> Loads of good advice from all directions. I think it all has a lot to do

> with who you are and where you¹re coming from. I imagine that anyone

> whatever age who takes up ashtanga is probably fairly physically active to

> begin with. I cannot imagine that all that bending & stretching and

> leaping

> about would appeal to anyone of sedentary tendencies. Probably many of the

> people who come to the practice later are looking specifically for a

> physically intensive practice and have a history of athletic activity,

> dance

> or whatever. I know sedentary teenagers and twenty year olds who have

> difficulty getting up the steps leading to the door of my house, so all

> this

> is relative.

> I continue to believe that the satisfaction of doing ashtanga practice (at

> least for me) is in a very special kind of physical exertion which, when

> you

> get it right, on your own terms, unlocks other degrees of perception. I¹ve

> always been useless at sitting still and meditating ­ my mind goes into

> spirals of parallel activity. Tom said that if you only practice

> intermittently everything snaps back and gets stiffer ­ that¹s scary but

> it

> makes sense. So maybe it¹s better to do a gentler practice but keep going,

> not stop. I find this is the hardest since I stopped going to classes for

> economic reasons but it is much more satisfying to at least do a minimum

> everyday ­ and easier. I find that if I can only make it as far as my mat

> and get into surya A it then gets very hard to stop going all the way

> through my habitual sequence even when I¹m an hour late for wherever it

> was

> I was supposed to be.

> Someone else said that if you are only doing the standing poses you

> concentrate on strength and resistance and not flexibility. What about the

> finishing sequence? And do you mean body and mind? Does that mean an

> inflexible mindset as well? I liked P. Olof¹s comment that knees are only

> hinges. Sometimes I wish it was possible to insert a little D40 oil to

> ease

> it up! The hinges get a bit dry and rusty after years of use.

> As regards back problems, I think elderly is a state of mind more than

> anything else. When I was twenty I remember having back problems which I

> attempted to solve by lying down for a week. Thirty years later when that

> happens, I go to an acupuncturist, apply some heat and start doing surya A

> without jumping. This usually solves the problem in a couple of days. A

> friend here said that after ten, twenty, thirty you get to the age of the

> Condor ­ a pun as OCom dor¹ in Portuguese means with pain. Maybe another

> problem is that global capitalism constantly tries to convince us that we

> should never feel any pain ­ that if we do, there is some expensive remedy

> to cure it, instantly of course. Rusty hinges usually work better if you

> move them regularly ... part of the knowing yourself is also overcoming

> fear and understanding that no-one is coming to save you but there are a

> lot

> of people out there in the same predicament.

>

> Cheers to all

>

> Vik

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

ashtangayoga , " mart ... " <martw77 wrote:

>

> Hey Will,

>

> Best if he saw an experienced teacher to tailor something to his

needs. Its

> said that Ashtanga should not be practiced in its entirety by the

over 50's

> if they have never practiced before. But this does not mean they

cannot have

> a practice. The most important asana being the finishing sequence.

But this

> is still to much for most. Its important someone who knows what

they are

> doing can work with his body to give him something thats

beneficial to him.

> I would say Surya Namaskara A or gentle variations of it would

straighten

> out his back if practiced with gentle consistency every day. You

can get

> good books on yoga for the over 50's with lots of asana

variations. But

> again, someone who knows what they are doing should really work

with him, if

> thats what he wants.

>

> mart

>

>

> > " w_cottrell " <w_cottrell

> >ashtangayoga

> >ashtangayoga

> >ashtanga yoga Suggestions for elderly man's back

problems?

> >Sat, 07 Jul 2007 14:50:41 -0000

> >

> >Hi there,

> >My Dad is developing a slight stoop in his upper back and I

wondered if

> >anyone had suggestions to help. I don't think he's about to start

yoga

> >(he's 64), but is there some pseudo-asanas he might try to help

remedy

> >it?

> >

> >Will

> >

>

> _______________

> Tell MSN about your most memorable emails!

http://www.emailbritain.co.uk/

>