Yoga of Aging

YOGA OF AGING.

Or continue to Yoga Therapy

There are two approaches to aging – passive and active.  Passive aging gives way to the creeping paralysis of the soul that goes with the natural changes of the body………….   Active aging cooperates with the physical effects of age by adjusting to a change of pace.”  (Joan Chittister “The Gift of Years”).

What does this mean – Yoga of Aging?  Perhaps, let’s start with the word Aging.  “Aging is the natural process of all life.”  Dictionaries will define the word as “the process of growing old or maturing.”  The new phenomena that we are faced with now is the lengthening of our life expectancy.  For many years the life expectancy was 40, maybe 50, with only a few reaching their mid-60’s.  Now, it is not unusual for us to live well into our 90’s.  And, with this extended life span, we are left with the question “How may I age well?”

So, aging is a given; but how we age is not.  And that is what Yoga of Aging is all about – it is about HOW we age.  And to understand how we, individually, move through our journey of aging in order to maintain a vital and balanced life, I refer to the eastern teachings of Yoga and Ayurveda.

A simple definition of the word ‘yoga’ (www.yoga.org.nz) is, in part, “Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit.  The continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and well-being, and a feeling of being at one with the environment.”  Ayurveda means “science of life or longevity” – it is a 5000-year old science of medicine based on the idea of balance in the bodily system.  My good friend, exquisite teacher, and talented Ayurvedic Practitioner (vaidya), Arun Deva, once said “Ayurveda is the language of health; Yoga is the language of transcendence.”

Hence, The Yoga of Aging, is a workshop on how, by applying the principles and practices of both Yoga and Ayurveda, one is able to age with grace, integrity, and joy, thereby bringing vitality and harmony to their life.

In this workshop, we explore together the highlights and obstacles of aging.  Although we will concentrate more fully on our ‘mature’ years, this workshop is for everyone as it allows us to better understand not only our own journey with aging, but the journey of others, such as relatives, friends, clients.  You will learn about the three stages of life, and how/why each stage is equally important.  We will discover together what life style changes we need to make to allow ourselves to age with grace and integrity – and with a sense of humor well intact!  At the completion of the workshop, we shall have a new feeling or sense of purpose.  We will feel invigorated, renewed and refreshed – in short, we will become an  “Active Ager”!

I leave you with this gem from a charming book entitled “The Little Paris Bookshop” – we enter in during a discussion regarding ‘old classic’ books.  Monsieur Perdu says, in part “……………Books aren’t eggs, you know.  Simply because a book has aged a bit doesn’t mean it’s gone bad.  What is wrong with old?  Age isn’t a disease.  We all grow old, even books. But are you, is anyone, worth less, or less important, because they’ve been around for longer?”

My reply would be “Absolutely not!”  What is your reply?

For more information regarding the YOGA OF AGING workshop, please contact me at:  jivamayayoga@gmail.com.

To read the paper I wrote on Aging with Ayurveda, here is an excerpt and link to the paper below.

AGING WITH AYURVEDA

(The VATA Years – The New Social Capital)

Ayu-Kamayamanena dharmartha-sukha-sadhanam-0ayurvedopadesesu

vidheyah paramadarah

One who desires a long life in order to attain virtue, wealth, and happiness should very respectfully apply oneself to the teachings of Ayurveda (AH Su.1.2)

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Om shanti