Hatha Yoga’s Attraction for Middle-Aged Students

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Why are more, and more, students, over 40 years of age, discovering Hatha Yoga classes for the first time? What can Hatha Yoga do for a “couch potato?” What can Hatha Yoga offer the active person, who is over 40? Let’s take a closer look at each of these issues for the deeper answers, which Hatha Yoga contains.

There are many styles of Yoga, and Hatha Yoga is just one of the nine main styles from India. Hatha Yoga has many sub-styles, such as: Vinyasa Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Kripalu Yoga, and many more. Before we go too deeply into this subject, please realize that outside of India, the most common form of Yoga is Hatha Yoga.

Why are more students over 40 discovering Hatha Yoga classes for the first time?

Recently, I’ve seen an influx of Yoga students, at our Attleboro Yoga Studio, who have been inactive for decades, but decided to make a “life change” to improve their health. As a result, they become physically active in Hatha Yoga classes and continue to practice their Yoga training at home.

Some of our new Yoga students arrive, due to a physician’s referral, but many have researched Yoga. Their research caused them to make an independent decision to improve their health on a mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional level.

As we approach middle age, body weight is harder to get rid of than it ever was. As a result, this extra weight can bring us many health problems and diseases.

In fact, shedding 10 or 20 pounds of body weight may just extend your life span. Heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and more diseases, prey on those of us who carry extra pounds around.

So, we are not considering living at a nursing home for an extra decade, but increasing our odds to have an active and quality life to the end.

What can Yoga offer the active person, who is over 40?

For those of us who have been exercising for decades, we realize there is a flaw in the “No pain, no gain” theory. Premature joint wear is the biggest problem. For most of us, recognizing the difference between muscular and joint pain comes with age.

Therefore, the new fitness motto for middle age should be, “Work smart, not hard.” This requires a bit of research, as to which style of Yoga is most suited to your body and then finding a compassionate Yoga teacher. One class can tell you if the style is to your liking. As for Yoga teachers: It is easy to recognize a Yoga teacher who is abusive from one who is not.

However, some people are very attracted to a Yoga teacher who will “push them.” Be careful if you fall into this category. A Yoga teacher is not a coach, whose goal is to push you to the next competitive level.

It is fine to have goals in life, but take the time to research your individual needs. Make sure the Yoga teacher, and the Yoga style, you choose will fit into your lifestyle. Yoga’s principles are more about training for longevity than training for a short-term gain.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor
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The Benefits And Joys Of Yoga

By Peter Curtis

There are a lot of people who are crazy about yoga. The reason why most people do yoga is that it makes them feel better and in shape. The different poses and postures make their body healthy. Yoga for most is the best way to relax and unwind. If you want to keep your body in shape, this might be the best exercise for you. Did you know that yoga is good to fight certain illness that may come? There had been researches which proved that yoga helps you to control anxiety, reduces asthma, arthritis, blood pressure, back pain, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, epilepsy, diabetes, headaches, stress and many more.

Yoga has a lot of benefits and advantages. All in a day’s work, it can reduce tension and stress. Of course after a heavy day, you will feel that your muscles have been stuck up and you will feel wasted. If you do yoga, your self esteem will be higher. It is important to gain more confidence inside and out so that you can face people with no worries. Yoga is good for the body in increasing your muscle tone, strength, stamina and flexibility.

If you are too fat and conscious about your body figure, yoga can help you lower your fat and keep your body in shape. Yoga exercises can burn excess fat and give you the desired figure that you want. If you need time to relax and forget your responsibilities, yoga will be good to improve your concentration and enhance your creativity. Yoga helps you to think more positively away from all anxieties. If you have a fresh mind, you can think of good things and apply it easily.

Your body needs to relax once in a while. Sometimes, work can leave us wasted and exhausted. During the heavy days, we may not find time to unwind because work is still on our tail. Yoga can help you create a sense of calmness and well being.

Yoga exercise helps you improve a good circulation. Your organs and veins need to be exercised for it to function properly. Yoga can help stimulate your immune system and keep you away from diseases. If you have a good immune system, you can be sure that you are free from sickness. Some people do yoga to be enlightened. They believe that yoga will help them bring up their spirit and keep them relieved. Yoga works differently for people be it spiritual, emotional, psychological, mental and physical.

People think that yoga is only for spiritual people. But that belief is wrong. Even if you are not that religious, you can do yoga. You will see and feel the difference at the same time find out how it works for you. Due to the pressure and demands of life, we become stressed out and we forget the essence of life. We tend to lose touch with the ones we used to spend time with, even ourselves. We find ourselves rushing most of the time with the deadlines and hassles we need to keep up with. This leaves us a small time to wander and have that physical awareness. These are the few things that yoga can provide. Once in a while, find time to dedicate a part of it to yourself to relax and unwind which only yoga can give.

Peter Curtis is a full time aerobics instructer in Las Vegas. In his spare time he writes articles andguides for various website and online publications. You can visit one of his website about the Yoga here. http://www.aerobics-exercise.com/Yoga.html

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How to Become a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher
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FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter.
Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, "Yoga in Practice."
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/docs/Yoga-in-Practice-eBook.pdf
Visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Affiliates: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/signup.html
On-Site Training: http://www.riyoga.com
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