Are you challenged to participate in any kind of physical activity to improve your health? Are you prepared to argue that you are not made for any kind of physical activity because you are too weak, too old, too busy or in too much pain? Maybe moving around for the sake of moving around holds no interest to you .
Why not look at your own social determinants of physical activity- conditions in which you were born, grow, live, work and age. How about your culture, gender, social support and previous experience. Examine how far you have to go to exercise; is it affordable, is it inclusive? Does it require fancy matching clothing or special equipment?
If you were born without a natural sense of balance or graceful movements- I relate to you. If your knees had perpetual scabs on them for the first 13 years of your life- we are band aid kin.
Fifteen years ago friends suggested I try yoga. I sputtered, "yea right, I've never touched my toes let alone balanced on one leg."
My Barrier- a negative personal attitude about my ability to do something physical successfully. Never stopped me before- judge and refuse.
My Incentive- I was fiftyfiveish, anxious, not sleeping well and tired of arguing with friends about trying yoga.
I read about yoga, found a six week class and went. Here is what I knew about me. If I pay to go to six classes, I will go to all six classes. Being a cheap skate sometimes is a good thing.
At my first class, when the yoga teacher called for a forward fold with fingertips to the mat I protested, "I have never been able to do that" He gentle prompted, "bend you knees"
OH
So I modified, adapted and became aware of a new freedom, I could move with balance and grace. That teacher showed me HOW to do it.
Look at your social determinants. Your barriers. Your long held biases.
Yoga is simply three things: breathing with movement, then rest.
If you have a skeleton and at least one lung- you are perfect for yoga!
Find a teacher- in person or online. Learn how to breathe. How to move. How to Rest.
Why not look at your own social determinants of physical activity- conditions in which you were born, grow, live, work and age. How about your culture, gender, social support and previous experience. Examine how far you have to go to exercise; is it affordable, is it inclusive? Does it require fancy matching clothing or special equipment?
If you were born without a natural sense of balance or graceful movements- I relate to you. If your knees had perpetual scabs on them for the first 13 years of your life- we are band aid kin.
Fifteen years ago friends suggested I try yoga. I sputtered, "yea right, I've never touched my toes let alone balanced on one leg."
My Barrier- a negative personal attitude about my ability to do something physical successfully. Never stopped me before- judge and refuse.
My Incentive- I was fiftyfiveish, anxious, not sleeping well and tired of arguing with friends about trying yoga.
I read about yoga, found a six week class and went. Here is what I knew about me. If I pay to go to six classes, I will go to all six classes. Being a cheap skate sometimes is a good thing.
At my first class, when the yoga teacher called for a forward fold with fingertips to the mat I protested, "I have never been able to do that" He gentle prompted, "bend you knees"
OH
So I modified, adapted and became aware of a new freedom, I could move with balance and grace. That teacher showed me HOW to do it.
Look at your social determinants. Your barriers. Your long held biases.
Yoga is simply three things: breathing with movement, then rest.
If you have a skeleton and at least one lung- you are perfect for yoga!
Find a teacher- in person or online. Learn how to breathe. How to move. How to Rest.
