These days, as the system of yoga is becoming more and more mainstream, we repeatedly find write-ups on yoga-related issues in our local newspapers.

A lot has been written about the abundant applications of yoga and their benefits. You may be intrigued by it, but have you ever considered yoga to be for you?

Numerous times people have told me, “I’m too old for anything like that” or “I can’t bring my foot behind my ears!” This commonly recognized yoga position is not one that my students request to learn. I’d like to share with you that I am not able to bring my foot behind my ears either. Furthermore, I am not intending to attempt that.

The good news is that the learning and practice of yoga is pretty much ageless and independent from bodily limitations. As we age, the body’s physical functions do diminish, such as elasticity, range of motion, sense of balance, and strength. Therefore, for our ongoing health and overall well-being, it is important to keep these qualities alive as much as possible. Yoga can definitely play an active role in this process.

Recently I learned about the story of Matthew Sanford, a paraplegic who has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than a decade. Through yoga he gradually reconnected with the paralyzed parts of his body. Although this is a more extreme example of the independence of bodily limitations, this example may bring your own worry about your tight hamstrings, hips, and shoulders into perspective.

In yoga the person is not made to fit the pose; the pose is adjusted to suit the person’s level of ability. This is achieved with the help of props like a wall, chair, block, strap, and so forth.

Yoga poses are always practiced to the best of the student’s capability. In one of my classes I have a 95-year-old woman doing yoga alongside others whose ages start at 35. Although her practice looks different from the rest of the class (she uses poses that are geared toward her individual needs), the benefits she reaps are real. And almost every week, she tells me how much the yoga has helped her.

Practicing yoga makes you simply feel better! Should feeling better be reserved for only the young and flexible? Every age can enjoy the benefits of yoga.

Martina Maxfield