by Marie Coreces
Yoga has always been my way of exercising and staying fit. It offers a beautiful balance of breathing, flexibility, stability, and strength. Proper breathing, along with the discipline to keep
still and be fully present in the moment, is one of the greatest advantages of yoga.
I began my journey with Bikram and Vinyasa, and eventually discovered Iyengar yoga, which turned out to be the perfect fit for me. Iyengar’s use of props greatly supports proper alignment, giving
me confidence in executing the pose, and allowing me to feel safe in doing what otherwise might be too difficult to achieve without any aids.
It is especially ideal for those with injuries, as the props help make the poses more accessible, and you can gently and safely ease yourself back into regular practice as your body heals. The
teachers are well-trained and attentive—they never push you beyond your limits because they understand each person’s body and condition. At the same time, they gently encourage you when they know
you can do more to further improve.
At 73, I can proudly say that yoga has helped me tremendously in maintaining my balance, strength, and flexibility. Despite my osteopenia, I continue to aim for making improvements in doing each
pose and developing my practice.