Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 94 e funny thing is, whenever I men- tion healthy aging there is an immediate assumption that aging signifies getting old, as if it were a problem. However, the truth is that even as we are living, we are aging one day at a time. Growing old is a privilege and the practice of yoga offers effective tools to help us age well while enjoying all stages of life. As you read, consider how the practices of yoga can and should be addressed throughout life. ere are many complementary approaches allowing you to transition grace- fully through the years while evolving physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. THE FIRST PHASE OF LIFE IS CHILD- HOOD, KNOWN IN YOGA AS THE STUDENT STAGE EXTENDING FROM BIRTH INTO THE MID-20S. It is time for play, imitation, and education. It is a time for seeking enjoy- ment and experiences as well as learn- ing self-care disciplines. It is a time for gathering knowledge as one learns about relationships with family, community, culture and the world at large. Yoga Practice during the student stage is best approached at an activity level that builds physical strength and stamina while developing mental discipline. Because the student tends to be more easily distracted, a vigorous flow (vinyasa) in a traditional series offering playful imita- tion of asana (postures) serves to provide guidelines with little room for wandering. e traditional form of Astanga was specifically designed for the adolescent boy who needed a strict routine to remain focused. As this discipline traveled to the west, it became what we now know as vinyasa or flow yoga. THE SECOND STAGE OF LIFE IS KNOWN AS ADULTHOOD OR THE HOUSE- HOLDER (AGES 25 – 50). is is the stage for taking what we have learned as students and putting it into action. It is a time of self-discovery, enterprise, and adventures. For many this means stepping into gainful work in order to meet one's material needs. It also is a time for both traveling and setting up a home base and, for many, raising a family. Obvious- ly, this is a busy time full of responsibilities which can result in higher stress and a lack of self-care in the midst of taking care of everyone else. Yoga practice for the householder should offer effective tools for stress management. With so much energy focused outward, yoga needs to focus inward. Meditation, breathwork, and longer held asanas (posture) will contin- ue to build strength and stamina while nurturing peace of mind. To counteract tensions from a householder's personal and professional roles, yoga is a time for cultivating a much-needed balance with less doing and more being. THE LATE ADULT STAGE OR ELDERHOOD (AGES 50 - 75) IS TRADITIONALLY CALLED HERMITAGE OR THE FOREST DWELLER. Our current culture recognizes this age as Baby Boomers. In ancient times, the Forest Dwellers would leave their homes and reside in a small hermitage just outside the village. is is what we term retirement. Life at this stage is meant to become simpler so one can devote more time to inner reflection and spiritual practices. is is the age of wisdom where all of the experiences in the first two stages, childhood and adulthood, can lend support and guidance to those fol- lowing in their footsteps. However, you may be one of the Baby Boomers with a drive to keep going strong—holding onto the householder phase by continuing with a full and busy life instead of settling down. Keep in mind that if you con- tinue to overdo, your nervous system gradually builds up muscle tension causing soreness and achiness. Lifelong patterns can cause the skeleton to move out of alignment resulting in dysfunctional movement that puts pressure on nerves and breaks down joints causing stress and fatigue. Some blame aging as the cause of these discomforts. Nevertheless, A CCORDING TO THE ANCIENT WISDOM OF YOGA AND AYURVEDA, we human beings spend a lifetime transitioning through four different stages, each loosely spanning 25 years. It is often in the transitions between these stages where we experience our greatest challenges. e key to living in a state of grace lies in recognizing the natural processes of aging from birth through maturation into self-expression and finally personal reflection. by NANCY RUBY founder of YogaMotion Wellness Academy Y O GA FOR BOOMERS AND BEYOND Nancy Ruby's Yoga Motion Morning balance routine www.distinctlymontana.com/yoga201 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL Nancy assists student with Warrior One pose

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