Ask the Yoga Teacher
I started yoga later in life,
can I still increase my flexibility?
Answered by Kathleen Kastner, owner of Maya Yoga studio, in Kansas City, MO.
I have never been able to sit comfortably cross-legged and wonder if I will ever be able to do some of the poses, such as lotus. Although I have made some progress, I’ll be 50 next month and wonder if others have been able to make great gains in flexibility after coming to yoga late (or later) in life? How can I improve? -David
Congrats on discovering how great it feels to do yoga!
No matter your age, it is never too late to make significant increases in flexibility. However, you have to be really patient with your knees, ankles, hips, and back as you work on “undoing” all the tightness from the years of “doing” intense cardiovascular exercise. To help you work towards your lotus, practice Pigeon pose on your stomach and on your back on a daily basis, with lots of ujjayi breath behind your poses to calm your mind and heat up your muscles and joints.
I also suggest stretching your quads, one at a time. Keep breathing, and don’t overdo it on your knees, they are golden joints! Keep doing a daily practice and lotus may just find you--when you least expect it.
Kathleen Kastner has been teaching ashtanga, vinyasa and power yoga for ten years and is also the owner of Maya Yoga
studio, in Kansas City, MO.
Comments
19 May 2008, 16:16