I attend a Yoga class in Larned at the Community Center. If you are interested, it is only an hour, one day a week, and fun! Our instructor is knowledgeable, very pretty, and in condition.
The class…that’s us…consists of we women who range in age from 65-?. I don’t want to give ages, you understand! We are NOT knowledgeable, and we are in some kind of condition. And, we are cute!
What do we do? Oh I am so glad you asked!
First, we show up.
Yes, that is an accomplishment. Don’t snicker. Half the battle of doing anything is showing up.
We bring our yoga pads. They are long, foam, mats that are comfortable on which to exercise. The floor is not.
Our teacher wears exercise clothing. She looks like a Yoga instructor.
We wear whatever we darn well please. Sometimes we look put together, but most of the time, we are just there. Shoes. Check. Clean socks. Check. Comfortable, stretchy pants. Check. Loose top. Check.
Our instructor speaks very softly, but we watch her, and listen quietly to her directions. Sometimes we older ones read her lips. That works best.
We perform and hold many positions. All are meant to increase our flexibility, increase our strength, improve our balance, and relax our very beings. Yoga is a very peaceful routine. It provides levels for every age and type.
Now, if you are thinking that we sit on our mats with our legs up and over our shoulders and around our heads, you are sadly mistaken! We can’t do THAT yet…but I know its coming. We are working up to it. This week we sat Indian style and breathed deep!
Pretty impressive, wouldn’t you say?
A main position from which where one leads to another is the “Down Dog”. Wanna practice? Get down on your knees, on your mat, doggy style. Then, plant your toes and raise up…Your legs should now be angled and straight. You will be in a stance that forms a shape of an A. Head down with arms straight, palms pressed against the mat. Legs at an angle (look at the A) ,bottom in the air. Stretch the legs and try to press the heels against the mat.
Hold that position! Feel the gentle stretch.
Can you imagine how it looks?
You still here? Now breathe.
Our instructor looks great! She has great form! We look like aging women holding ourselves up with our butts in the air!
But she doesn’t look at us.
Thank Goodness.
Now, gently lower your knees, one at a time, and return to the kneeling position. You are on all fours. Arch your back up, tuck in your derriere, lower your head. THIS is the “angry cat”. Drop your back, arch it down, and this is the “cow”, I think.
Next, let’s “flow” into the “child’s pose”! Shall we?
Now, tuck your body flat, close to your legs, head down, arms out in front of you on the mat. Subservient.
Rest. Ahhhhhhh!
Also, we listen to gentle, soothing music when we exercise? It goes, “ting, ting, wang, ding, tong, tong, wongy, dong”.
You ask, “Does your mind wander and think of peaceful streams and meadows?”
Well, No. Not exactly.
During the exercise, holding the positions, I mainly think, “Ohhhhh. Ouch. Ouch. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it! One, two, three, four, five, six…”
But here’s the reason I am there. I am exercising. Exercises that I would never be motivated to do on my own…for an hour, for Pete‘s sake! Yoga does a thorough body stretch. I feel great after its over. And no one gives a rip how I look when I do the positions, or how I dress!
It’s pretty neat.
If you see me, ask me to show you the “Down Dog”. Don’t ask me in Dillons. I just may show you there, and it wouldn’t be pretty!
So, come to the class if you can! And, if you are a young filly, don’t be put off. We need someone to exercise on a more advanced level with our very apt instructor.
Monday mornings. 9:30 a.m. See you there!
No comments:
Post a Comment