Book review: The New Yoga for People Over 50

Yoga is often viewed as a young person's pursuit; the domain of the lithe, ultra-flexible, under-40 year-old female. Images in the media of honed young bodies sinking into impossible-looking yoga poses compound this misconception.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The heartening reality is that the over 50 age group, both male and female, have arguably the most to gain from a consistent yoga practice, regardless of their health or experience.

We forget, often, that yoga is (or should be) an inclusive practice.

Though the flowing, vinyasa practises commonly offered in western yoga studios and gyms have enormous benefits, we are in danger of forgetting huge swathes of the population for whom a yoga practice can literally change their lives.

Suza Francina's important book, The New Yoga for People Over 50, is sure to convince the most ardent doubter of yoga's unique ability to keep body in mind in optimum health.

Over 50 years of age herself, American-based Francina is a certified Iyengar yoga instructor with over 20 years' experience. As director of the Ojai Yoga Center in Ojai, California, she specialises in classes and workshops for those over 50.

As Judith Lasater, renowned yoga and physical therapist, puts it, 'Few people are as qualified as Suza Francina to write about the life-enhancing benefits of yoga for those over 50... What better gift can we give ourselves than the ability to move, breath and enjoy life, whatever our age.'

The 265-word book is split clearly into distinct sections, kicking off (impressively) with a foreword by BKS Iyengar - the founder of the Iyengar school of yoga and perhaps the most well-known practising yogi of a certain age; in his case, over 80.

Other sections include an introduction to the myriad benefits of beginning a yoga practice later in life; a chapter on our changing view of ageing, followed by a look at how yoga slows down and even reverses the ageing process.

Francina also devotes chapters to key yoga postures for the over 50s; yoga for feet and knees over 50; yoga techniques to prevent or overcome arthritis; as well as sections on inversions and back bends. For teachers interested in bringing yoga to this age group, there are tips on teaching and hints for a home practice.

The author is a thorough, enthusiastic and well-informed guide; the facts and arguments she presents in favour of a later-life yoga and exercise programme, are sometimes mind-blowing.

For example: a study by Tufts University put a group of frail nursing home residents, ages 87 to 96, on a weight-training programme. Within eight weeks, muscle tone improved by 300 per cent.

Importantly, the book uses pictures of genuinely older people (some of whom are in their 80s) to demonstrate the asanas. Their flexibility and strength are inspirational - notably, an image of a muscle-bound 70-something in a half-handstand.

I hope older readers won't be intimidated by the images of older people performing advanced asanas; from my perspective, these pictures are nothing shortly of inspirational. Francina is at pains to emphasise that everyone, no matter how inflexible or unfit, can benefit from a regular yoga practice.

She devotes a chapter to describing how props such as straps and bolsters can be useful to help modify poses, and makes the point that, even if standing poses are not possible for a student at first, everyone can benefit from a comfortable Savasana, or a spot of pranayama.

The book is also peppered with thoughtfully chosen quotes from other specialists, including Vanda Scaravelli, in yoga and ageing. Perhaps most inspirational of all are the frequent tales and case studies from people over 50 whose lives have been transformed by yoga.

As Scaravelli, author of Awakening the Spine and founder of the Scaravelli approach to yoga, said, 'there is no age limit; one can start yoga when 70 or 80 years old and no damage will occur if the movement comes from the spine.

'People feel elated and it gives them comfort and encouragement to discover that it is possible for them to control and modify their bodies. To talk about old age as an impediment is an excuse to be lazy.'

The New Yoga for People over 50, by Suza Francina, is available at specialist bookshops, and at amazon.co.uk

YA Retreats: yoga breaks for all ages

If you are an older person interested in giving yoga a go, take a look at the wellbeing breaks offered by YA Retreats: www.ya-retreats.co.uk   Our breaks are suitable for all, including the over 50s and complete begginers.