Yoga for Youth

By Amanda Junker

Stay young with Svaroopa yoga

Turns out the fountain of youth isn’t as hard to find as it is to pronounce. Svaroopa yoga (roll the “r” and say the “v” as you would in the French voila), a Sanskrit word meaning “your own true self,” involves modified poses that work to relieve stress and bodily compression, keeping you young through flexibility, strength, vitality, and your state of mind. “Svaroopa’s focus on decompressing the spine and opening the [airways] reduces the tension and anxiety that cause tissue damage and premature aging,” says Rama Berch, founder of Svaroopa.  Here are the six simple techniques (1 breathing, 1 relaxation and 4 poses) to get you started.

Relaxation and Breathing
Studies show stress causes cellular degradation and speeds the effects of aging. Savasana (corpse pose; universally the last pose of yoga class) lowers your heart rate which dulls your reaction to stress while breathing exercises teach your lungs to take in more oxygen per breath so you have to breathe less frequently leaving your heart to pump as easier and fewer times.

Do 20 minutes of each pose below or five minutes of savasana followed by 10 minutes of breathing in savasana. Then rest two more minutes.

Corpse Pose (Savasana)
1.    Set a timer for 20 minutes. Lie on your back on the floor with two bolsters or three pillows under your knees to take pressure off your spine.
2.    Place arms near sides with your palms facing the ceiling or place palms on belly.
*If neck tension exists prop a thin pillow underhead so forehead and chin are level.
3.    Use a guided relaxation tape or relax each area of your body until you feel peaceful.

Yoga’s Sounding Breath (Ujjayi Pranayama)
In Savasana, narrow your throat passageway slightly in order to exaggerate the sound of your breath.
1.    Slow the breath. Create an audible, slow sound on both the inhale and exhale.
2.    After 5 to 10 breaths, use less throat tension and quiet the sound of your breath for 5 to 20 more minutes.

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