My yoga story - Ollyn

As we approach the end of October and Positive Aging month, student Ollyn has generously shared her experience. 

I came to yoga later in life. Whilst through my youth and working life I had dipped in and out of a consistent exercise program, once I retired I knew that I wanted to make exercise a priority.

So I tried a number of different types of exercise and nothing seemed to stick and improve my wellbeing. I was advised by a teacher that I lacked flexibility. I was concerned as I thought that meant it was gone forever but step-by-step I found my way to Claire and Iyengar yoga. I first joined a friend at a series of pop-up classes and then although those had been quite short classes with few props, I realised I wanted to try full classes at Maitri Studio. 

Like many my age, life has damaged a few bones and ligaments along the way and I never could fit into a "perfect" position. Claire has taught me that there is no perfect position - there are props to help and the more the merrier!

In my first class at Maitri Studio with Claire I found myself in a chair shoulderstand! How could that be?! The answer - through careful instruction, lots of props and gentle guidance and encouragement. I was astounded at myself and grateful to realise that I can still play and have a go at building strength and flexibility now. I’m only at the start of this practice but it’s lots of fun and "failing forward"* and I look forward to class each week and continuing my practice. I'd love for people not to be scared to try something new. With well-trained teachers you're in good hands and you'll be guided safely to listening to your own body and experimenting with what you can manage. 

We love that Ollyn enjoys her practice at Maitri Studio so much! Of course we do add that not everyone might be ready for chair shoulderstand in their first full class - it'll depends on the teacher working with you and observing your practice and innate abilities. There are all sorts of options and modifications to create a similar action in the body if for any reason a pose is not within your reach or suitable for your health conditions. Read more about Iyengar yoga classes at Maitri Studio here. 

*also editor's note - as Ollyn's teacher, I don't feel she is 'failing' in any way! Yoga is a practice and while most of us don't look like the pictures in the yoga books that's not the point. We learn to feel and respond. But I appreciate Ollyn's light-heartedness with this comment!