Ordinary Eve
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being." Acts of The Apostles 17"
Bang! A New Year has dawned. At school, we were always told that resolutions should be positive not negative - "taking up" something not "giving up". I have a recommendation. Most women obsess about their figures post Christmas and hence decide to either diet or take up exercise. This year, why not make time for yoga?
Yoga is both physical and spiritual. It allows you to strengthen your body whilst at the same time giving freedom to your mind in a meditative fashion. Religiously speaking, it doesn't tie you down to any particular faith nor does it engender a feeling of holiness. It is more like an experience of physical retreat. It allows your mind to expand in a way that makes you feel at peace and in the mood for worship. Yoga's origins are Indian and the practice of it transports you into another "culture". It is this feeling of transportation that enables you to feel another worldliness that isn't of the earth and therefore spiritual. I see it, loosely, as another expression of religion.
I have only really got into yoga since having children. Prior to that, I was keenly addicted to Step Aerobics. To the point where I made sure I was in the front row either just to the right or to the left of the instructor.
Nowadays my hour of escape from childcare responsibilities tends to occur around lunchtime which seems to be "yoga hour" at most health clubs! So it was yoga I fell into.
There are different types of yoga. Hatha is gentle, a good introduction to the practice, but Asthanga feels more like a workout. The idea of all yoga is that you use your own body weight to stretch and hold postures or "contortions" depending on how supple you're feeling!
The classes may only last an hour but in that time you really do feel physically and mentally renewed. It is the perfect release from toddler intensity. You come back home feeling fresh and full of positive vitality. If you are a parent of young children, try it and keep it up. The benefits are relaxation, energy giving, toning, strength and improved metabolism.
And yoga isn't just limited to adults. If you live in a child-swamped area like Wandsworth, you can't fail to have heard of baby yoga too! This is aimed more at mothers who are already keen to give it a try than at the specific health benefits for babies. However, I can vouch that babies really do love it. I remember at one post natal class (having recently had my twins) being invited to bring along the twins. I arrived with Clarissa just dozing off but Oliver was ready to party. The instructor took on Oliver as the model yoga baby. She placed him tummy down on her shins holding his hands and she lay down legs bent. Then she began to swing her lower legs up and down. Oliver, aged 3 weeks, burst into giggles - he was loving it!
I have also used yoga techniques to calm crying babies. One of these is placing the baby tummy down along one arm whilst standing upright and rocking your arm from side to side - make sure that you are in a comfortable environment. If you are not confident using just one arm or haven't done it before, double up your forearms and move them gently.
So with or without the kids, there is something in yoga for everyone. Find your chakhra and enter the new year with a bit of physical peace that will help you reach for God's peace a little more easily.
