When I studied Yoga Therapy under the wise guidance of an Indian doctor, he told me an inspirational story of a young man training there in the military.
During one of the sessions, they were swinging from ropes fixed to a very high ceiling, and it broke whilst he was in full swing. He fell to the ground and landed awkwardly, breaking his neck at C5 and limiting his physical actions to the neck up. He could still blink, breathe, chew, talk and swallow, but everything else he depended upon on external help.
His mind became terribly depressed and he spoke only of dying, but even this he required assistance and his efforts to convince his friends and family were unsuccessful.
It was a friend who suggested he should try Yoga. “How” he asked, “can I possibly do all those poses?”
So this is where our story begins. Many people assume that Yoga is what they see in a magazine of somebody contorting their bodies into a Cirque de Soleil position. Personally, I think it is slightly irresponsible for modern teachers to promote Yoga this way since it suggests that Yoga is about achieving a pose or a certain look, which excludes a great number of people, so please don’t be disheartened by these images..
I’ll return to finish that story of our Indian friend in a minute, only to say that he began his Yoga journey as a quadriplegic from a wheelchair.
The tools of Yoga are not limited to the physical postures (called asanas). In fact, they represent only a small part of the whole practice.
Other tools include:
- Breathing
- Meditation
- Chanting
- Reading / discussion
- Selfless service
- Visualisation.
If you can breathe, you can do Yoga.
As Yoga Therapists, we apply any or all of these tools of Yoga to the student as they present, in their current condition, on that day. Working with people one-on-one requires a full assessment to determine which tools, in which order, are most appropriate.
From my experience I’ve seen positive results in many conditions ranging from Parkinson’s to a stiff lower back. All you require is the desire because ideally, it takes a daily practice of around 15 mins to reap the benefits.
That said, finding a good Yoga Therapist can be difficult in many countries outside the US and India since it’s relatively “new” on the therapy scene. More difficult than that however, is finding the motivation for a daily practice. That’s why having “desire” is pertinent to a positive result.
The next best thing in the Yoga world is to join a group class. Beginners often find themselves more motivated when joining a friend’s class as it can be a little intimidating to walk into a room of strangers, and any support helps.
Here’s another piece of support:
Know that nobody in the class pays any attention to either your outfit or your skill (or lack of it). Why? Because they are all busy thinking the same thing – and when you’re thinking about others thinking about you, you don’t have time to think about them so much.
And for true students, none of that matters anyway.
The last thing I’d recommend is practising in front of a DVD. This would of course, remove that feeling of everyone watching and judging your inflexibility, but a generic practice where the teacher can’t personally supervise you can be dangerous. Unless you truly have a great knowledge of your body’s physical range PLUS an acceptance of it, then it’s very easy to become injured by pushing yourself to where you WANT to be vs where you’re actually at.
It’s why they call it a “practice” – because things don’t happen overnight. They happen gradually over time. Only your mind is in a hurry, your body is not.
As we practice, things begin to happen. Sometimes you expect them, hope for them, achieve them, get disappointed by them, but generally you’ll always feel better after a class. Also, many partners report that their better halves become a “nicer person” with Yoga.
Science is curious. Microscopes and wires are now measuring more grey matter after only an 8 week mediation practice. Grey matter is the darker tissue of the brain where most of the nerve cell bodies are. Harvard research found that grey matter increased in key areas, such as the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and temporoparietal junction.
And these are parts of the brain that help us to remember, to focus, to learn, to inhibit impulses and regulate our emotions.
The FDA also recognises that a 2 month breathing practice not only lowers High Blood Pressure, but stabilises it as well.
Research into these practices is on the rise – no doubt in response to stress-induced conditions driving people (giving them the desire) to turn to Yoga and other mindful practices.
No matter what your motivation – whether it be a health issue or simple curiosity – I’ve always said that if I can still put my socks and jocks on at the age of 90 without creaking or complaining, then it’s been worth the gentle effort.
And what did happen to our suicidal, wheelchair-bound Indian?
After some time, he went onto great heights. His Yoga journey provided him with a new perspective on life and he realised there was a lot he couldn’t do, but also a lot that he could. He now runs a thriving centre for disabled kids who have no means of rehabilitation, and he attributes his success to Yoga.
