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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I want to be this old lady!


This lady is 83 years old.  Apparently she only started yoga 40 years ago, which means she has been practicing yoga for longer than I have been alive but also means she only started in her 40's.

We can all do yoga at any age of our life.  And while Bette (that is her name) is doing a pretty advanced posture that many of us might never do (although we might) the point is she is still practicing.

Maybe I will be alive when I am 80, maybe not.  I sure hope I am still practicing yoga with such joy.

You can read more about Bette here:
http://iamchiq.fooyoh.com/iamchiq_living_lifestyle/1745661

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Inappropriate Yoga Teacher!


Last week I had an enquiry from someone who said a friend of theirs (a woman) went to a private yoga class and the teacher (a man) suggested they try a tantric meditation whereby she sat on his lap facing him while they looked into one another's eyes.  My friend wanted to know if that was appropriate.  He went on to describe some of the intimate sounding adjustments that had gone on in the private lessons.

Since I don't know the teacher or what style of yoga he was teaching or what they had discussed about yoga I can't make too many comments.  Having said this, the answer to the question of whether this is appropriate or not is always going to be, if it does not feel right then it is not right.  This goes for yoga teachers asking you to sit on their lap or yoga teachers making adjustments on you!

You must always remember you come to yoga class for you.  Most of us come to feel better.  You are the best judge of whether something is appropriate or not because it is your body, your mind.  Your yoga teacher might have suggestions and it is up to you to decide whether or not to take up those suggestions.  So while a teacher might encourage you to go deeper into a pose it does not mean you have to.  While a teacher might suggest a particular pose, you never have to do it.  If you do not know why your teacher is suggesting something then feel free to ask their reasons.  If you are not satisfied then just pass.