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| shuffleboard vs. meditation |
| The challenge to forge a culture of dignity and integrity for the second half of life in a world where fully half of the human beings who have ever reached 65 are currently alive falls now on the shoulders of the Aquarius Generation.
The West is awakening to what ancient sages, yogis and mystics have known for centuries - that life takes a natural turn towards introspection and a desire for clarity in The Third Age and beyond. But, say the authors of Life Planning for the 3rd Age, few policy structures and supports exist to help Third Agers craft lives of fulfillment.
The popular idea of Successful Aging tends to bypass or dismiss the normal aging process, with its natural inclination toward reflection -- gerotranscendence -- and foster a shuffleboard vs. meditation mentality. Stay young is its mantra.
The Spiritual Aging Movement, on the other hand, embraces the inevitable changes of aging as the soul's work, as opportunities for transcendence and peace. The Conscious Aging Movement, and Second Journey also support lives of fulfillment and integrity. Drew Leder's and Zalman Schacter-Shalomi's Spiritual Eldering Institute is just one of many visionary endeavors offering hope for reform.
Yoga, with its ready-made community and wide accessibility - an ever-growing number of teachers, web sites, CDs, DVDs, cable networks and even meditation channels piped onto hospital televisions -- offers an ideal structure for spiritual aging. |
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‘Imagine a shared transcendent reality ... open a timeless spiritual reality ...express radiant consciousness.
-Marsha Sinetar,
‘Don’t Call Me Old I’m Just Awakening’ |
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| Reaching the depths of the soul ‘requires that we age.’ |
| ~ James Hillman |
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| elder yoga |
| Never before have so many people reached their wisdom years together. Never before has the stage of life from 50 and beyond extended much longer than a decade or two. Now it reaches into the realm of nearly half a century.
Yoga's accessible practices of meditative movement and stillness create the ideal itinerary for the journey as it takes a natural turn toward spirituality and introspection, or gerotranscendence.
It is my passion to continue to bring the peaceful, meditative practices of yoga to elders. Read HERE of my collaboration designed to do just that for New York City's seniors. And please contact me for yoga and meditation workshops, wellness series or private sessions. |
| elder yogis - in their own words |
| Since the fall of 2006, seniors have met weekly for chair yoga in New York City's Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village. Through surgeries and loss, joy and pain, more than 50 elders have come to gently move, deeply relax and spend a few moments in meditation. Perhaps their words, from their September '09 satisfaction surveys, convey better than any article or research report the n and practical ways yoga can enrich the wisdom years. |
The breathing I learned after only four classes has helped me relieve anxiety. Sleeplessness has responded to the breathing and I’m now able to sleep for most of the night.
After four chair yoga sessions
When I'm walking and feel a pain or tire, I'll do the deep breathing. If I get scared, I’ll do the centering. I try to stay in the moment much more.
Chair yoga participant for more than two years
The breathing practices are helpful before sleep, as are the visualizations. I also use stretches in the morning. For me, balance is a major issue after knee surgeries. My balance has improved so much even classmates notice.
Chair yoga participant for a year and a half
When I clean, I practice some movements, and relax at times and meditate. I believe the classes help us move – especially those over 80. We use body parts we don’t use daily.
Chair yoga participant for more than two years
Before I get out of bed, I do body twists, tree pose, tensing and releasing and stretches. I have learned to appreciate what I can do and not be so hard on my body for what I can’t do.
Chair yoga participant for two years
I use the deep relaxation two or three times a day, before I start to read. Also, I suffer from chronic insomnia, so the breathing practices are very helpful.
Chair yoga participant for a year and a half
Every morning, I do the stretch exercises and chair movement. What we learn in the class helps with my balance and stiffness.
Chair yoga participant for two years
After sitting at a computer/TV, I do breathing and stretching – very helpful! My balance seems to be improving, too.
After 20 chair yoga sessions
I use Nancy's CD, Deep Relaxation, every evening and do deep breathing. It’s wonderful, and helps with sleep.
Two-year chair yoga participant
You leave the class with the feeling that all your joints have received attention.
Chair yoga participant for a year and a half
My breathing is deeper. It’s a wonderful class and very beneficial to health and wellness.
Chair yoga participant for two years
It is a gentle practice that accomplishes so much, both physically and spiritually.
Chair yoga participant for a year and a half
I do other exercises and incorporate yoga into them. They strengthen my back muscles.
Chair yoga participant for two years
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outcome-based wellness programming
for senior centers |
| By Nancy O’Brien
In the first months of 2009, I collaborated with two mind-body experts, Bornali Basu, Ph.D., and Allyson Pimentel, Ed.D, RYT, in designing and piloting a 10-week, outcome-based wellness program at a Washington Heights, NY senior center.
Drawing on our passion and extensive experience in yoga, meditation and working with elders, we developed sessions that included instruction in meditation, yoga, mindfulness, positive psychology techniques and other self-care practices. The curriculum was adapted from the evidence-based programs of John Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., at UMass Medical School and by Herbert Benson, M.D., at Harvard Medical School.
Participants ranged in age from 60-86, with the average age being 73.4 years. Several members were very consistent in their attendance and formed a core group of “regulars.” In fact, the sessions exceeded usual attendance expectations, showing a lower dropout rate than the usual fairly high rate reflected in literature for psycho-educational groups.
Participants reported in post-series measures that they learned to effectively utilize the mind-body stress-reduction strategies. Eighty-three percent of the participants stated that their sleep improved, and 100% of the participants stated they felt more confident in dealing with everyday stressors.
This is how some of the participants described their experiences:
"[What was most helpful was] learning to use my breath to calm myself and to scan my body with my mind to help to identify anything that is going on and to use meditation to find a way to make it better."
"I liked the workshop because I learn to control my life."
"I learned a lot. I learned to take time for myself. I used to try and solve everybody’s problems, not think about myself. Now I think about me, take time to smell the roses for myself. I’ve learned to say no to things that are not emergencies. I’ve learned not to rush, to take time for me alone in the morning. I’ve learned to just listen to quietness, stillness, to listen to the birds sing."
It was a blessing to spend time getting to know these beautiful elders. I'll never forget hearing about claw-footed bathtubs, the story of a treasured pin found after some deep faith-filled breaths, tales of those they had helped and those who broke their hearts. I sat some moments in awe of the deep beauty of their words, their faith – their ability to offer refreshment and to douse the fires of a troubled soul, whether in a crowded hospital or across the hall at home. And their joy!
I was so gratified to learn that the meditations and yoga and visualizations brought some comfort, some strength and peace. Their grace and spirits will long inspire me to try to bring the gift of yoga to elders whenever I can. |
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