My 60-ish mother is interested in doing yoga to add some activity into her life. Whats the best way for her to start?
Tracy says: First of all it’s great for your mother to be starting something new in her 60’s. One of the best ways to stay young in mind and body is to learn new things. Yoga is a wonderful tool for fitness, wellness and neurological stimulus. Even if someone in their 60’s has a background in some kind of fitness activity, I still recommend starting at the beginning with a beginner’s class. While some of the poses in yoga are intuitive – you may have figured out some of the poses on your own when trying to stretch this or that part of your body in the past – there is still a finer art to how to use the body well in the practice of yoga. Many studios offer free intro classes, which review the most common poses, names of poses and the unique terminology of instruction. Or, they offer a series for beginners. Take advantage of this not just at 60 but in your 20’s. Yoga offers many benefits, but won’t if you hurt yourself trying to follow the person next to you in class. These courses are a
