Until recently, my knowledge of yoga was limited to recollections of 1970s public television, and knowing that my maternal grandmother stood on her head for 10 minutes every morning - well into her 80s. I didn't realize she did yoga to counter arthritis, but DO recall she bowled and played darts long after others her age were in nursing homes.
Fast forward a few years. After 18 months of treatment, tests and procedures for back pain and sciatica, my physician suggested yoga. So I went to my first class, and was blown out of the water. You have to be strong to hold those positions!
Over the course of 8 weeks, we've had several instructors - each with a little different focus. Its been enlightening. There is yoga for kids (complete with animal sounds), yoga for core strengthening, yoga for bigger bodies, and restorative yoga for seniors. It improves your strength, flexibility and balance - which is exactly what I (and many other people who sit at a desk all day) need.
My Sweetie has joined me in taking Yoga Basics. We quickly noticed he was the only male student. But our instructor shared some history. Yoga was developed
for and
by men. Monks used it to quiet the body so they could meditate. Modern co-ed classes, however, have been discouraging to many men because women have greater flexibility. Our instructor offered a men-only class at one time - with good attendance, but the women objected and prevailed. Once the class was open to all, the men started dropping out again. How unfortunate that this highly effective form of treatment/exercise is known to very few men.
Another barrier to yoga catching on is its roots in Eastern religion. A local health club refuses to teach yoga for this reason. As recently as 2005 the Vatican spoke out against yoga. Western interest in yoga peaked in the 1980s, when Dr. Dean Ornish "connected yoga to heart health, legitimizing yoga as a purely physical system of health exercises outside of
counter culture or esotericism circles, and unconnected to a religious denomination." Thank you, Dr. Ornesh. I hope that clears things up!
