What are you doing for your Dad for Father’s Day? The occasion reminds me of a post from a few years ago I wrote about men and Yoga. Much of it still rings true for me in my work with private clients.
There is an overall pattern to the inquiries I receive from many of you about private instruction:
- You’re often in your mid-to-late 40’s or 50’s
- You work a 60-70 hour, high to very high stress work week
- You are chronically tight in the shoulders, back and hips
- The level of physical activity you may have had in your 20’s and 30’s has dropped dramatically
- You are interested in Yoga as much for the stress-reduction (achieved through breath work and meditation) as for the physical benefits a Yoga practice provides
The husband half of my newest clients – a couple with five kids – fits the bill. His wife described him in her email to me as the “tightest person she has ever known” and said he refuses to attend a public class. My guess as to why he refuses probably has to do with the fact that, as my male clients can often attest, there are very few group yoga classes out there that address the specific needs of men in their age range (45-55). You make the effort and work up the courage to find a Yoga class, any Yoga class, and more often than not find yourself the lone wolf in a room of 20 women in their 20’s and 30’s (my husband of course, doesn’t see how this is a problem!). But it is true that the instructor’s goals for this group are likely not going to meet you where you are; they are not going to address what you need addressed. They will often frustrate, disappoint, intimidate and overwhelm you.*
There is a genuinely safe, individually appropriate space for you to begin addressing the effects of stress on your body and mind. Private Yoga instruction offers a personalized approach, ideally worked into your schedule in your own home, that will help you begin to take an active role in reversing the habits of health-compromising posture and breathing.
If you (or your Dad) fit the bill, consider a private, personalized Yoga practice. Use the form below to contact me for scheduling and pricing details.
[contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"]* A “Beginner Series” of yoga classes at a reputable yoga studio (rather than a fitness center or gym) is often the next best place for new students of any age, fitness level or body type. The Iyengar studios and classes in my opinion, offer the safest, best-trained instructors for the beginning student.