For some time now I've been noticing how much agility I have lost. The idea of running quickyly down the stairs or skipping across the parking lot no longer seem simple or natural. In fact, I feel a bit awkward when I bend, climb or squat. I've also noticed loss of certain movement patterns in some of my older yoga students, especially those involving the pelvis. I find this alarming. Not only would I like to retain some semblance of grace in my movements but agility is critical in preventing falls and other accidents.
Sometimes blessings come in disguise. As I attend physical therapy sessions during my recovery from knee surgery, regaining agility is part of the program. For example, I've had to get on a trampoline and hop back and forth, sometimes alternating legs. When I was first instructed to do so, I thought my PT was joking. Then awkwardly I tried to comply. What I found amazing is that the initial awkwardness quickly gave way to more ease as I continued. Not that I can skip and hop as though I'm eight years old again, but I'm doing better than before my knee surgery!
So I am now more convinced than ever that agility can be maintained or regained through movement. I now have a balance board and a mini tranpoline besides my exercise bike and my yoga mat, and my daily exercise routine has become longer and more diverse. It definitely takes more time to maintain an older body, but then that's why there is such a thing called retirement, right?
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
My Guided Deep Relaxation CD
Feeling agitated? Uptight? Have trouble sleeping?
Yoga Nidra is an ancient practice that deeply relaxes the body and the mind. It has been found effective in alleviating insomnia, fatigue, and other long term effects of chronic stress. It has been found that thirty minutes of Yoga Nidra brings about rest equivalent to three hours of sleep.
Yoga Nidra also provides a great restorative experience for people recovering from chemotherapy treatments and chronic illnesses.
The CD is available at:
http://www.figgardenpress.com/ and
http://www.figgardenyogastudio.com/
My Book
QUIET MIND, HEALTHY BODY:
The Art of Low Stress Living
Taking good care of ourselves become increasingly important as we age. With a strong link between stress and chronic illnesses, a low-stress life style becomes more desireable than ever.
While retirement relieves us from work stress, we are still left with many habits of thought, emotions, behavior and life style that may exacerbate the stresses natural to aging. Since habits can be changed, why not actively make the rest of our lives as joyous, peaceful and content as possible?
For more information on the book, visit:
http://www.figgardenpress.com/
For reviews on this book, visit:
http://www.amazon.com/
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Take Charge of Your Health
When I began following the last election after decades of not watching TV, I was horrified by the commercials. It seemed to me there must be an epidemic of digestive problems, chronic headaches and erectile dysfuntions. What amazed me the most, knowing a product would not be advertised on national TV unless there is sufficiently high demand for it, is why these products are selling when their list of possible side effects seemed to me to be far worse than the ills they're proposing to remedy.
I began wondering how much of the symtoms targeted by these products might actually be side effects of other prescribed medications. I remembered a research study that showed over 40% of illnesses are iatrogenic (caused by medical treatment). Is it possible that a blood pressure or a cholesterol medicine might be causing low libido and trouble with erection? If so, is it a good remedy to add one more medication that might cause even more drastic side effects??
We are now living longer than ever before. Even with the best self-care, our systems break down and need tune-ups. At the same time, medicine is becoming increasingly specialized while the insurance industry is such that physicians are working more rapidly, seeing more patients per hour and spending less time with each. We can no longer simply rely on someone else to be in charge of our health, without involving ourselves in the deliberation process for treatment.
It is up to each of us to know what our primary care phsyician's treatment philosophy is and whether it is one with which we agree. One physician, for example, might embrace the newest medications on the market while another might favor a more natural appraoch. It is also up to each of us to become more cognizant of the variety of natural remedies available for certain conditions so we can have am educated choice as to which treatment course we want to follow.
I began wondering how much of the symtoms targeted by these products might actually be side effects of other prescribed medications. I remembered a research study that showed over 40% of illnesses are iatrogenic (caused by medical treatment). Is it possible that a blood pressure or a cholesterol medicine might be causing low libido and trouble with erection? If so, is it a good remedy to add one more medication that might cause even more drastic side effects??
We are now living longer than ever before. Even with the best self-care, our systems break down and need tune-ups. At the same time, medicine is becoming increasingly specialized while the insurance industry is such that physicians are working more rapidly, seeing more patients per hour and spending less time with each. We can no longer simply rely on someone else to be in charge of our health, without involving ourselves in the deliberation process for treatment.
It is up to each of us to know what our primary care phsyician's treatment philosophy is and whether it is one with which we agree. One physician, for example, might embrace the newest medications on the market while another might favor a more natural appraoch. It is also up to each of us to become more cognizant of the variety of natural remedies available for certain conditions so we can have am educated choice as to which treatment course we want to follow.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ingredients for Joyous Aging
I am writing this blog because I am aging and because I find the process of aging in today's world fascinating. Never before have we lived this long, which means the aging process is new territory for us to explore and negotiate.
So what are the necessary ingredients for a successful journey? Right now I would think the following are vital, and on which I plan to write about in future post:
1. GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH. I think this is self-explanatory for anyone who has experienced a bout of ill health. It is difficult to greet each day with joy when we are low in vital energy or suffering from aches and pains. There are many small things we can do to keep ourselves well.
2. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. The aging process is filled with unavoidable losses which can only be balanced by the ability to see the cup as half full rather than half empty, the capacity to see the larger picture and count our blessings. As we will see, a positive attitude can be cultivated.
3. CAPACITY FOR SELF-CARE. As our energy wanes, we can no longer afford to take on one more thing we'd rather not do, say "yes" when we want to say "no", forego rest.....
4. SELF-ACCEPTANCE. As we lose our capacity for many things that used to be easy for us, we are forced to face the necessity of developing a sense of self-worth that is not based upon what we can do but upon who we are. This was always desireable, but now it is critical.
5. LOVING RELATIONSHIPS. Research has found that older people do better when not isolated. Even the most private person needs some sense of positive community. Our later years is a time to practice forgiveness and tolerance, make amends, even let go of relationships that do us more harm than good.
6. INTERESTS, HOBBIES, PASSIONS. For the best mental health, we need something outside of ourselves to focus our interest. Our later years are the best time to do what we didn't have time for when we're younger, whether it's art, sports or service.
No doubt I'll find more essential ingredients for graceful aging, but writing about these six should keep me busy for a while.
So what are the necessary ingredients for a successful journey? Right now I would think the following are vital, and on which I plan to write about in future post:
1. GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH. I think this is self-explanatory for anyone who has experienced a bout of ill health. It is difficult to greet each day with joy when we are low in vital energy or suffering from aches and pains. There are many small things we can do to keep ourselves well.
2. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. The aging process is filled with unavoidable losses which can only be balanced by the ability to see the cup as half full rather than half empty, the capacity to see the larger picture and count our blessings. As we will see, a positive attitude can be cultivated.
3. CAPACITY FOR SELF-CARE. As our energy wanes, we can no longer afford to take on one more thing we'd rather not do, say "yes" when we want to say "no", forego rest.....
4. SELF-ACCEPTANCE. As we lose our capacity for many things that used to be easy for us, we are forced to face the necessity of developing a sense of self-worth that is not based upon what we can do but upon who we are. This was always desireable, but now it is critical.
5. LOVING RELATIONSHIPS. Research has found that older people do better when not isolated. Even the most private person needs some sense of positive community. Our later years is a time to practice forgiveness and tolerance, make amends, even let go of relationships that do us more harm than good.
6. INTERESTS, HOBBIES, PASSIONS. For the best mental health, we need something outside of ourselves to focus our interest. Our later years are the best time to do what we didn't have time for when we're younger, whether it's art, sports or service.
No doubt I'll find more essential ingredients for graceful aging, but writing about these six should keep me busy for a while.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
