Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Iyengar Yoga: yoga after 40 years old

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Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Iyengar Yoga:
yoga after 40 years old

pascal
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Sep 22, 2004, 1:46 PM

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it is usually said that progressing in asanas is very difficult after 40 Crazy

. well, it maybe right for flexibility (even if i disagree because i am 46 and feel like progressing without being superman Tongue

), but yoga is not stretching, improving in how many points you can control in your asana, or how far can you feel relaxed in your posture is also very important , and this has nothing to do with age (i suppose). what is your opinion and experience about this?

Nadia
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Sep 23, 2004, 6:52 PM

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I think yoga is like any type of physical activity, things like age or inguries can limit what you can do with it. But the difference with yoga is that it doesn't matter because it's about how your practice benefits you. How far you can stretch etc doesn't matter because it's about working with your own body, and even if you're not advanced, your body would still be benefiting from it. I think that's the most important thing. I think you're right when you say that relaxing in a pose and doing the pose correctly is more important. Overall, age does make a difference to how far you can take it, but it's better late than never, and you'd definitely be more fit and healthy than other 46 year-olds who don't do any exercise!

Bryan Alexander
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Sep 24, 2004, 5:30 AM

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I'm over 40 and I'm doing fine. Is it said that it's hard to progress after 40? I've never heard that before. Is it people under 40 who are saying that? Whoever is saying that, I shall thump them on the head.

Whatever it is that becomes impossible after 40 is probably not a great loss. I'll take wisdom any day.

Ram Dass used to talk about losing sex drive after one achieves advantaged age. He said about this loss, "What a relief!"

And what about Jan Campbell? She's an Iyengar teacher with certification at the intermediate level (last time I checked). She didn't even start practicing yoga seriously till after she reached age 40. She is still active, teaching, and glorious now at the age of 70. (Her studio's website is www.yogacenternashville.com.)

pascal
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Sep 24, 2004, 8:50 AM

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Well, thank you bryan, i feel more optimistic in my practice, especially because i am beguinning teacher training (we call it "preformation" in french, which is the first of the 3 years); it is a teacher (and unfortunately, a great teacher Unimpressed

of the iyengar center in paris who told me that (it is not faeq biria Angelic

) Well... i shall have a little talk with him some day Tongue

Lizpagan
Novice

Apr 11, 2005, 11:43 AM

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I'm 46, hae been studying and practising for over a dozen years, and I haven't noticed any slowing down of "progress" since reaching this advanced age.

For instance, virasana was not one of my better poses. I always needed a block. Recently, I've begun to do it without a block -- not every time, but it's sure better than never.

And I only became able to come out of sirsana in a pike after I reached 40. I can give more examples... but you get the idea.

Not only that, but some of my poses seemed to improve after I took 6 weeks off after a hysterctomy (confirming my theory that the body and mind do a lot of good work while ostensibly resting).

So I think that whoever said improvement is difficult after 40 either has a limited experience or is very pessimistic!

Nadia
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Apr 11, 2005, 9:43 PM

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Could it be that your yoga practice after the age of 40 depends on when you started yoga? Everyone here seems to have started yoga when they were young and has maintained a fit and "young" body so that they are able to progress even more in yoga as they get older. However, if you started yoga when you were 40, with an unfit body, you would probably make significantly less progress than an unfit 20 year-old would. But I guess the question is whether or not aging can slow your yoga practice down, and I really can't answer that because I am still young and do not have enough experience in yoga practice. It's a nice and reassuring thought to think that yoga is something that you can practice progressively for the rest of your life Smile

Sarah100000
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Sep 19, 2005, 11:36 PM

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Well I'm 40, and have recently started yoga. I went to my first class quite apprehensive about my ability, age, creakiness, level of fitness and flexibility etc. but to my utter surprise I'm doing really well and my body is loving it. I used to be fit years ago but after 2 children I haven't done sustained exercise and am feeling rather in awe of my body for which I have a new found reverence and gratitude. I suspect age has little to do with it. I have been a vegetarian for years and eat organics etc., perhaps that has helped?

AnnaW
Novice

Oct 9, 2006, 10:51 AM

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My Iyengar Yoga teacher who is over 40 said recently: In Yoga the older you get, the better you get. This, of course, implies a regular practice. He pointed out that certain poses that he thought he would never be able to do a few years ago - now are part of his regular practice.

Also check out this link to some pictures of Vanda Scaravelli - the Italian yogini - isn't she an inspiration!

gangadip
Regular

Nov 4, 2006, 10:59 AM

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Recently, just before my 60th birthday, I did my first unassisted handstand. Felt so good, I have put it into my daily practice. Some things get tougher with age to be sure, but accepting that is also a practice. Just started a sincere Pranayama class - my Iyengar teacher says that 60 is a great age to begin to leave the world behind and go within. Yoga keeps us younger longer, that much is certain.

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