It's About Mind, Body, And Spirit : My Post 50 Yoga Journey

“Welcome to yoga training Methods & Techniques I,” said my instructor B as she addressed our first weekend class at Lourdes Institute of Wholistic Studies in Camden, NJ. “We come together as strangers, but we leave as a tight-knit community. These are your sisters.”

There are five women, or should I say five yoginis (female yoga practitioners are called yogini, male are yogi), in the YTT200 program this year. By May 2016, after 200 hours of training, we will be eligible for our first yoga teacher certificate from Yoga Alliance.

Discovering My True Self

I was excited and anxious to begin training. I started practicing yoga about seven years ago, after my husband passed away. It helped me heal my mind, body and spirit and work through my grief. It continues to provide an outlet for “letting go” and “slowing down,” which is an ongoing challenge for me since retiring from my fast-paced, full-time job.

“Explore your own creative expression as a yoga teacher, ” said B. “Don’t worry about anything. I’m looking at your growth during this training.”

Om, Om , Om , I breathed in and began to relax on my mat. This journey I am embarking on for the next nine months is sacred. Am I ready to discover more about my own true self? Am I prepared for what lies deep within?

Yes, Yes, Yes. It’s a bit scary delving deep, yet, at the same time, freeing. Plus, I’m eager to improve my own strength, flexibility and balance during my life after 50 and share all the benefits that yoga has to offer with others.

The Eightfold Path

B explained the “Eightfold Path” Of Ashtanga Yoga according to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,who lived and wrote a long, long time ago between what is thought to be 200 BC and 200 AD. The guidelines start at the base with yamas (restraints such as nonviolence and truthfulness) and niyamas (behaviors and observances such as contentment and cleanliness).

The path moves up the hierarchy to asanas (postures), pranayama (controlled breathing), pratyahara(closed eyes to be with yourself), dharana(concentration), dhyana (meditation) and, finally, to  Samadhi (a blissful state of spiritual freedom).

“It is a roadmap to get to samadhi,” said B. “It can be a lifelong journey. There is always a deeper experience.” Am I ready to walk this spiritual path? Yes, yes, yes. I have a strong desire to live a balanced life”mentally, physically and emotionally during my second act.

Sequencing a Yoga Lesson

During our Saturday session, we learned how to create a lesson plan. “Follow the threefold sequencing approach,” said B. “First centering, next contect and finally relaxation/meditation.” 

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