The New Yoga for People Over 50: A Comprehensive Guide for Midlife & Older Beginners

by Suza Francina

Many seniors are searching for ways to improve their quality of life and remain active as they enter midlife and later years. Nationwide, people are recognizing yoga for its ability to slow down and reverse the aging process. A complete health system, yoga not only restores vitality to the body, but also expands the mind and soul. Yoga transforms the years after 50 from a time of deterioration to one of increased perspective and illumination.

In The New Yoga for People Over 50 , readers will learn how the health of the spine and posture affect every sustem of the body, and how yoga positions and breathing exercises benefit the circulatory system, the heart and other vital organs, relieve menopausal symptoms, and remove stiffness and inertia from the body. In this comprehensive guide, Iyengar yoga expert Suza Francina describes and illustrates how to begin and maintain a yoga program through personal stories and over 100 easy-to-follow instructional photos of older teachers and students.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

286 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true life stories and pictures of people in their 60's, 70's and 80's practicing advanced yoga poses are the best part of this book. It's one thing for a person in their 20's to be practicing the more difficult, exotic looking poses, but when you see older students practicing them with relative ease,you realize that this yoga stuff must really work. I loved reading how a consistent yoga practice relieved many of these people of chronic pain and the need for pain killers. I think that American medicine has come a long way in extending the quantity of years someone can live, but not the quality of those extended years. Pills and pain medicines all come with side effects and many could be unnecessary if we treated our bodies with respect, or as the Bible refers to it "the temple of the Lord". The author maintains that, "Daily practice of yoga will keep old age at bay. Yoga transforms a negative approach to life into a positive dynamic one."

[Barth Siemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read this book as an introduction to Yoga practice that did not assume that I am an athlete with the cardio-vascular system of a nineteen-year-old and the agility of a fourteen-year-old. It perfectly fit the bill. Suza Francina makes a great case for anyone that is "still breathing" to start practicing Yoga. The New Yoga for People Over 50: A Comprehensive Guide for Midlife and Older Beginners provides a potpourri of testimonials from teachers and students with instructions on modifications that lower the entrance bar to become attainable for every age and ability.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone over 50 at any fitness level. There are inspirational pictures and stories of older people (some quite advanced in age)doing some amazing yoga. Conversely, there are instructions for taking even the most difficult poses and making them accessible to all with modifications and props. This is truly a "work from your own level" book and you can make the poses as gentle or as challenging as you desire. I know I will be referencing this book from now on.

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring to see the amazing poses and flexibility of people who didn't even start yoga until in their 50's or 60's. No matter how old you are, or what problems you have, don't give up and stop moving. Life will be better if you always keep developing as much as you can. Lots of great tips for using props to help get into poses, to help you gain back strength and flexibility even if you are already rather stiff.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was grabbing a different book off the library shelf, but I'm glad I mistakenly came home with this one. Even though I'm not 50 or over, I definitely appreciate the perspective that it's never too late to begin something helpful and healthful, and the props they suggest for beginner inversions are super helpful!

[Em]

Good, not great. Better books are out there for teaching yoga to those over 50, with back pain, with limited movement, etc.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and easy to use and implement.

[Sherrie Gingery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful in adding knowledge to what one may already knew about yoga and Pilates. I love to show this book to my older clients as the stories are photos are very inspirational.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great resource for those of us who want to learn yoga but have been afraid because of injury. I am so glad I bought it!

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're not getting older, you're getting better!