I asked the students in my Senior Class to describe what yoga means to them. I had given them textbook definitions of the meaning of yoga during class, but I wanted to hear what their personal definitions were.
Here is what they had to say:
Your yoga class has helped me to become more flexible. It's helped my balance, improved my posture, & increased my strength (by standing on one leg at a time, for example.) It's made me aware how breathing can be controlled to be stress relieving & calming. You remind us not to be judgmental or critical of others, or ourselves. You remind us to think positively, & you remind us that there are a lot of things to be thankful for.
Thank you for teaching the class!
Namaste.
Darice
Yoga, to me, is a "pleasant" form of meditation! Because of yoga I feel that I am gaining more awareness of my physical body and my daily surroundings, life, nature, etc. - all good for the soul. I also feel that my focus and my mind is gradually improving.
Thank you!
Eleonore and... Namaste
Thanks! Your class is great!
My definition of yoga is one that I've taught for 40 years in world religion classes to adolescents and adults and that is the root of the word yoga is the same as "religio" -- to bind or yoke. There are a number of types of yoga, each one reminding the practitioner to bind or yoke their intellect, body, emotion, or anything else to the one who has given us LIFE. The mission of my religious order comes from the Gospel of John:10:10 "That all may have life, life to the full."
Namaste
Gretchen
Yoga is very important to me and it is even more evident when I miss a class. The quiet time, the physical benefits, opportunities to spend time with my friends and of course a great teacher!!
Nancy
Yoga is an altogether too brief interlude of focusing on just me and how things are "working". Afterward, everything seems to be back where it belongs and the day is so comfortable. After yoga, when I get up from having sat for awhile, there is no need to "unfurl" myself. I can just get up and go!
Love it!!
MAJ
I feel so comfortable in knowing that no matter how sore I get --- that I can stretch it out. Yea!!!
Namaste!! L.H.
Yoga = Calmness and Serenity
Breathing = Well Being and good posture
Norma
Yoga means so much to me. It allows me to find my balance in every way possible, muscularly, breathing, physically between the inside of me and my surrounding, in relation to other people, mentally and emotionally and spiritually. Our class is a practice space, a your teaching and caring builds my skills and then I go out into the world a little changed, perhaps innoculated from experiences that can lead to inbalance (and I have a teen, so those experiences are a given).
Yoga for me is a part of my ongoing growth experience.
Thank you and I love the emails.
Namaste
Liz
Sthira Sukham Asanam
Namaste
Dennis
When I’m tempted to get angry, I remember yoga and I’m not so angry.
Ursula
Tim, thank you so much for a wonderful experience yesterday and the peace and calmness it brought. Your class is truly a blessing and is the only time that I "really" let go of my daily thoughts. There is something magical about your class that surprises me (in that my daily duty seems to be to save the world - LOL). Anyway, thank you for taking the time and putting in the effort to make our Saturday truly special.
The thing that is so inspiring to me is that the majority of these comments are from folks in their late 60’s/early 70’s who have never practiced yoga before. They come from all different backgrounds, and different religious persuasions. Some work, some are retired, some are Catholic Nuns, some never go to church, some have studied yoga philosophy, some, or most, didn’t know the meaning of Namaste. It’s all just a simple testament to how universally healing this practice is, no matter when one comes into it.
I’ve been teaching some of them for over a year now, and love seeing how the practice has brought so much joy into their lives. Our time together every week is very simple. We breathe a little, we move a little, we come together as a community, and we leave with a little less stress, and a lot more peace.
Namaste, to the Senior Citizens of the North Hollywood Community Center
