Is Yoga For Everyone? By Kara Keating	Getting Started in Yoga

In the last few years, yoga has entered the mainstream of modern culture. Yoga can currently be found in a variety of venues, ranging from group classes at health clubs, businesses and yoga studios to private instruction in an individual's home. While it has been estimated that there are eighteen million Americans practicing some form of yoga, there are many who have not yet had the experience.

During the last five years of teaching yoga in Arlington, I have received many phone calls from people who are curious, but also wondering if yoga is appropriate for their particular constitution and stage of life. The intent of this article is to provide some basic information for one who is considering trying yoga, written in the form of frequently asked questions.

I am in my forties, somewhat overweight and out of shape. Would yoga be a good idea for someone like me?

The best news about yoga is that it can be practiced throughout life, and can be started at really any age. I started learning yoga from my father at age 12. Most of my beginning students are in their 40's or 50's. Does this matter? Not at all, because we start from right where we are. That is our individual reality. Additionally, the exercises of Hatha yoga (physical postures and linking movements) do help us get in shape, and often inspire us to lose weight. It takes more effort to move a heavy body around; after a period of time a yoga student may desire a lighter body that moves with ease. Many who commit to a regular yoga practice find that the practice itself seems to help bring the body to its more natural state. They begin to desire cleaner, healthier foods and water. A yogi (one who practices yoga) may find that they can listen to their body and give it what it needs, as opposed to listening to the confusing thought patterns of the mind. Eventually, with a single pointed focus on the unity of the body/mind, weight loss can be one of the natural outcomes of a yoga practice. Weight that is dropped this way will tend to stay off, due to the healthier living style that a yogi develops.

I have a stressful life and feel this stress creeping up on me. I find it difficult to sleep at night and feel tired during the day. Sometimes I become aware that I am holding my breath or gripping the steering wheel of the car. Would yoga be a good idea for someone like me?

Modern dance legend Martha Graham said, "The body never lies." We find out how true this is when we begin to check-in with our body. Self-awareness is the first step. We often ignore the messages until our body shows us that something is not quite right. What feels like vague anxiety can have its roots in some past (or current) situation or memory from one's life. Think of the phrase, " Oh, I have put all that behind me." This can manifest as backache, tight hamstrings, or a tight back of the neck. The "gut' feeling that we experience shows us that some patterns of thought seem to come from (and dwell in) the pit of the belly. So, when the body is tight, the mind is tight. When the mind is tight, so is the body. This is called the body/mind connection. The self-awareness that yoga so elegantly provides helps us control our body and our mind more fluidly. Once we truly experience this connection, our new exercise program becomes something far more powerful. The word "yoga" means "union." So the answer is yes, yoga is excellent for anyone who is feeling the effects of stress overload.

It seems that there are a lot of women in yoga classes. I'm a man and I am not sure I would be good at yoga. My muscles are pretty tight…I can't touch my toes. Would yoga be something I could get good at?

Tightness can be present in the body due to too much activity, or not enough activity. Fortunately there is no requirement of yoga that says you must be flexible to practice. In fact, I tell people it is a gift to be tight. The really loose, hyper-flexible people have a hard time "feeling" the postures, or maintaining them for very long. So, count your blessings and consider giving 6 months of regular yoga practice a try. I think you will like the results. As for the currently uneven ratio of men and women in yoga classes--I think it says something about our society as a whole. I am hoping this changes over time, and I encourage men to go for it. Hatha yoga is as much about strength as it is about flexibility and endurance.

I am religious, and already know what I believe. I am concerned about yoga being a form of religion. Is it a religion?

The union of the body/mind is a spiritual experience, not a religious one-although it can be when one applies their individual beliefs and sense of devotion while practicing yoga. The practice of yoga can produce a richer experience through this application. The body/mind opens; there is more flow and a certain kind of joy from the gift of being alive and breathing. Drinking a glass of water can be an act of gratitude. Life can become a prayer. Most people report that this new body/mind awareness deepens their spiritual life, regardless of which religious practice they choose.

I don't want to be in a yoga class when there is meditation or chanting. I just want a workout. How can I find a class without these things?

One valuable definition of meditation is to be doing what you are doing when you are doing it. By this definition, we do meditate already. It is often called "being present" or "being mindful." The body/mind connection brings us into this place, where time seems to open up, slow down, or simply provides a new perspective. We often experience this in the peak moments of our life, or during great loss or tragedy. Past and future fall away and we are fully in the moment. Yoga is a potent and deliberate practice for living in the present moment. As for chanting, some teachers chant in class and some don't. The best way to find a class if you have specific 'no's" is to call around, or try one class with a specific teacher. Yoga teachers in general are happy to answer any questions you might have about their particular style.

Regarding the workout question; using yoga to workout is a fine way to begin. Remember that we start from where we are. I have seen many who have come in wanting only the workout develop and grow over the years into deeper, more joyful, centered and self-realized individuals. It is fascinating and rewarding to watch it happen. Eventually, most yogis begin to see that there is more to it than meets the eye-they get curious at the possibilities that emerge for them personally. This is another starting point. Usually at this point they leave, or become more dedicated. Many exercise programs lose their luster eventually. Although I have got to say, having been active most of my life, yoga can be a great workout. We can certainly enjoy the benefits for quite a while, and much farther into our later years than perhaps any other physical practice. Many of the most fit and accomplished yoga teachers worldwide are in their 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and even beyond. Hatha yoga lubricates the joints, increases flexibility, and fosters strength both internally and externally. I might also mention that the continual subtleties of working on the postures (asanas) combined with breath work tend to keep us interested and ever more curious.

I am very athletic, and wondering if yoga can help with sports performance. Would yoga be a good choice for someone like me?

Yoga is highly recommended for athletes. An athlete can create imbalances in their body from over training. Runners and soccer players have some of the tightest hamstrings I've seen, and yoga is ideal for loosening them. Body alignment is another area that can improve athletic performance. A good yoga teacher helps the student "line up their bones," so that the body works more efficiently, reducing the chance of injuries caused by misalignment.

I have been diagnosed with a chronic illness (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, arthritis, etc.) I am so tired of being tired, sick of being sick, sometimes I just don't know what to do. Is yoga the answer for me? Would it be too hard for me?

Living with chronic illness can be debilitating and depressing. It may seem easy to give up and take to the couch. While that may seem like the thing to do, it will not help in the long run. At some point one has to get off the couch and 'deal'. Here again is a situation of our body talking to us. In the case of chronic illness, the body is shouting. Illness is a call to go inside, to wake up, to take notice, and to do something different. Yoga helps us on this journey. Outside influences like doctors and medicines can only do so much. We are the ones who have to deal with our own illness. I have had my own experiences, both with a serious illness and chronic problems that developed from that illness. I spent a long time in denial that I was even ill, but once it was obvious enough, I had to make major changes and be willing to take risks. Getting serious about yoga was one of them. In many ways, I felt that it had saved my life. It was the one practice I could hold on to during very difficult times.

I recommend that you find a teacher who will join with you in your quest for health-one who can gently help guide you along. As far as yoga being difficult-once again, we start from where we are NOW. In the practice of yoga, we often notice ourselves working too hard, being lazy, or drifting off into states of not being present. By getting to know ourselves better, we are able to stimulate a different kind of healing journey. Yoga in itself is not the answer; it is a tool that helps us open up to the answer…whatever that may be for you.

Over the years while teaching yoga in my Arlington studio, I have seen many people begin with a multitude of imbalances in their bodies. Gradually these imbalances are corrected. As they free their body, they also begin to free their minds. They are a constant inspiration to me, and proof that yoga is truly for every one.

Kara Keating is a yoga teacher, movement educator and registered counselor. She has been involved in teaching various movement arts for 20 plus years and is the founder and director of Movement arts in Arlington.

Kara can be reached at www.movementarts.com

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