YOGA - an interview
...hen Jan realized she was getting older and her body was getting frailer by day, she knew it was time to do something in order to “keep her young,” as Jan recalled. Thinking over what she wanted as a result -- being in good shape for her age, staying healthy, and to be more relaxed and social -- she decided that yoga would be the best thing for her condition about a year ago. Her daughter suggested an appropriate class in her in the area. After doing yoga, Jan said that even though she is exhausted she feels stretched and relaxed which is a feeling no other activity gave her. Even though she has a foot injury and her body is getting weaker as she ages, the class tends to ease the pain in her muscles, making them looser and less tense. Yoga does not only help Jan with the physical problems in her body, but it also deals with some mental difficulties. When I asked Jan if she had any stresses in her lifestyle she replied with, “Oh gosh, well I dont know where to start with that!” Stress is one of the most difficult things to deal with and according to Jan, but the one hour of yoga practice every day helps her maintain her health and control her stress. While meditating in class, the instructor puts on soft music and dimmed lights. However, while doing yoga, one is also concentrating on other things than the mind, so her teacher thinks its best to use normal settings. During yoga, since the class ranges from ages fourty to ninety, they do not usually try positions that may be hard, but instead easier positions such as downward dog, putting the hands to heart, lying on their backs and stomachs, or, just simply sitting cross-legged meditating. “We wouldn’t try anything we couldn’t get out of,” Jan said...