Yoga On Wheels

My parents stayed at the Senior Artists Colony in Burbank, CA.  This apartment complex is for seniors only.  Guess what?  They offer cool classes like art, meditation, and to my surprise they also offer yoga classes twice a week.  I was so excited I wanted to move in. Only in LA!  I could only pray mom and DAD would take advantage of the yoga classes.  Mom does enjoy yoga from time to time.  Dad, well, he is an old school cat born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.  He once went to the State Championships for wrestling.  Dad doing yoga would have been a when hell freezes over moment or so I thought.  I am sure a lot of woman who beg their boyfriends/husbands, brothers, and dads to take a yoga class can relate.  Even though women in the old days were not even allowed in yoga classes, presently some men are still nervous about coming to class.  Clearly the tide is turning.  I have many dedicated male clients off all ages who have no qualms about showing up for yoga class.

You can imagine my joy when my mom told me they BOTH went to yoga class.  My parents didn’t go just once, they went 3 times!  As a newbie to yoga, I asked dad what he appreciated most about the yoga classes.  Dad said he enjoyed moving his body in the various poses, it was peaceful, relaxing, and totally unintimidating.  My father is 75 years young and he is recovering little by little from a massive stroke he experienced two years ago.  Dad did his entire yoga practice in his wheelchair.  I asked him to show me his favorite poses.  This once again proves it is never too late, you are never too old, and you are never too broken down to start a yoga practice.  YOU COME AS YOU ARE.  Our bodies are self healing mechanisms and yoga is a great way to nourish the mind, body, and spirit.

Share this article with people who may spend a lot of time in any kind of chair, especially wheelchairs.  I hope my dad inspires you as much as he continually inspires me.  Raise your glass to yoga assisting all kinds of people to lead a more fulfilling life, cheers! Dad’s Yoga Benefits Included.

• An elongated spine, dad has serious humpback issues when sitting and standing.
• Lower blood pressure, dad has the symptoms of high blood pressure and hypertension
• A clear and peaceful mind, dad’s brain cells continue to recover from the hemorrhagic stroke. Sometimes wires cross when trying to connect and it can be frustrating.

Yoga Tip:
When dealing with a special needs yoga student, make sure you find a class and instructor specific for their unique needs.  As much as I would have loved to be my dad’s first yoga instructor, I am thrilled he had an instructor that teaches not only elderly people but also people with special needs.  The benefits of yoga continually amaze me.  You can do it!