Yoga with
the elderly-
Working with
persons of advanced age in assisted living has been a most rewarding
experience. They remind me of what really matters in life, even if someone
can’t remember my name, hear or see me well they know about relationship, hugs
and smiles, how simple playing can be a joy. Attention is greatly appreciated
and giving attention is easy. These things are true with all the many
individuals I have the honor to work with. I experience some stories they tell
me beyond just hearing, because they are not to caught up in being “together” and
show emotion so beautifully that the stories resonate in the heart. It is sad
that the generations get separated so much in this American culture. It would
be such rich education for children to know elders, hear their stories.
When I
started I had no idea what to expect, and didn’t listen to the people who said
they’d never come. I didn’t realize I’d
spend so much time rounding them up, pushing their wheelchairs helping them
stand and open doors for them with their walkers, and convince some each week
saying “you know you always feel better when you exercise”. I don’t get all the residents and the ones
who come don’t make it every time, but I don’t give up and this part of the
process is how I’ve gotten to know them little by little.
I came to
realize that unless it involved social interaction and it was fun they wouldn’t
come. So over time I have built relationship with them. The classes don’t look
like yoga, it is all adaptive and we throw soft balls around, sing songs,
cajole and it is all fun. Elderly people
know how to have simple fun just like children; it’s all of us from teens to
40’s who have forgotten how important community, laughter, acceptance and
sharing are! Oh, and hugs, these
people give and receive hugs so well!
If I had any
advice for someone who wanted to help elderly people, it would be to never give
up, form relationships with them and always respect their dignity. Don’t be
afraid to look foolish, be playful and keep showing up 100%. Soft balls and passing them around and a
basket to throw them into will go a long way. Doing the name-game often because
there are new people or they just don’t remember. Singing songs (You are my
sunshine, What a wonderful world…) allow 20-30 minutes of this kind of
interaction and then you can easily get them to move and stretch. In all my other yoga classes it is easy to have students
close their eyes and focus on deep breathing, with the elderly it has taken a
year to get some of them to do it for 3 minutes. But it is worth not giving up
when you begin to see their faces relax more and their posture align even a
little bit. I was thinking to myself; Sshould I keep trying to get them to do
meditation? Then, when one woman told me she does it before bed every night now
and it helps her sleep, I knew it was worth the effort and I persist. I know
I am there to serve them, yet I feel so blessed to be with them and learn from
them.
Movement is
a great healer. We have the wrong idea in this society: if it hurts don’t move
it. Though this is true when bones are broken, yet in most cases muscles,
tendons and joints heal through movement. The reality is not moving just leads
to more weakness and inflexibility, therefore more pain when you have to move,
which is inevitable. When injured you have to be very mindful
and never push to the point of pain, but to find the range you can move in and
gently, in a relaxed way. MOVE and keep
reclaiming your range of motion patiently, gently. Do activities where you can
enjoy moving such as dance and games.
We have to
monitor our loved ones who are injured or been inactive (for whatever reasons)
and be sure we help them to keep moving,
and as we get older, we need to remember to stretch and move in many
ways- not just sit, walk, and lay down. Again I will talk about eastern and
third world countries because they do things that make perfect sense, they keep
hip flexibility, back strength and good organ functioning because the sit on
the floor or low to the floor on rugs, pillows or mats. They move in a much
greater range of movement and strengthen all those muscles at least 5 times a
day. These are body-wise habits. If you look at all the most common physical
problems in America it is knees, hips and back. These are not so common in
cultures that sit on the floor. In these cultures activities like tai chi,
yoga, dance and martial arts or done at all ages!!! Here I recently met a
couple in their 50’s who were ready to give up dancing because they “get out of
breath” – that getting out of breath is
is telling them to dance more often, not give it up! We love our chairs, and couches but they
are not serving our bodies well. My bed is on the floor, I eat seated on the
floor, and I’m typing now on a yoga ball at my desk, because I have been seeing
and experiencing the ill effects of the furniture habit particularly in our
elderly.
My own
experience after several months of sitting and working on the computer (12-14
hours a day) lead to 60% loss of the flexibility in my back and legs, if not
more. This happened in just months! I
also experienced strains and sprains over the years and reacted by not moving.
Recent strains I have moved and moved and moved with patience and they healed
much faster and the range of motion came back 100%. What amazed me the most is
re-pulling a hamstring that initially was pulled back in my early twenties and
I pampered and re-pulled so many times that I accepted a loss of range in
motion for decades. Now, in my 50’s, as a yogi, I healed a recent strain through
moving! I thoughtfully kept moving and
patiently re-gained and increased flexibility in both hamstrings, beyond what I
ever had in my life!
Movement is
a great healer. So move every day, get down on the floor and roll around, dance
in the privacy of your own home if you are shy about dancing in public. Get
your blood circulating. Get your heart-rate up, stretch. It will improve how
you feel in so many ways- and it’s never too late to start. If you have been inactive for a long time I
recommend Tia Chi or gentle yoga classes to start. Embody your Spirit, Enjoy inhabiting and
nurturing your body through mindful movement.
Namaste, Christina
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