Movement as Medicine
"It takes time to take care of yourself. But it takes even more time
if you don't take care of yourself."
--Suze Francina, Author,  The New Yoga for People over 50
"If exercise could
be packed into a
pill, it would be
the single most
widely prescribed,
and beneficial,
medicine in the
nation."

Report from the
National Institute
on Aging.

Somewhere along the line, most of us lost touch with the simple joy of movement. The
conditioning of a culture that encourages, indeed almost demands, that we sit for 8-12 hours
a day, combined with the time-consuming responsibilities  of adult life,  gradually imprison us
in a more and more limited repertoire of movement.

But your body is meant to move. Virtually all body systems depend on movement for their
functioning. This is the case not only for the cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal systems, it
is equally true for the lymphatic system, the endocrine, digestive, and respiratory systems.
The list of ailments that can be eliminated or reduced with exercise is nearly endless.
Physical activity can lower cholesterol, eliminate hypertension, prevent diabetes or reduce
its symptoms, ease arthritis, and relieve asthma. It reduces your risk of dying prematurely,
and makes you less likely to develop heart disease or some forms of cancer. It also improves
your mood, reduces depression and anxiety, and benefits you mentally and spiritually.
It is a simple equation: regular physical activity improves your health; lack of activity
undermines it. Engaging regularly in some type of physical activity is one of the most
significant thing you can do for your health.

Putting the Fun Back in Fitness
Alas, just as our culture has conditioned us to be inactive, it has taught us that fitness is no
fun. For most of us, the kind of fitness activities we have been exposed to are streneous,
repetitious, exhausting, and often downright boring.  Maybe that is one reason why, although
we know that exercise is good for us, three out of five of us are not exercising regularly.  And
when we do launch on an exercise regimen, we tend to give it up within a few weeks.

If you are looking for ways to make fitness more enjoyable, we believe that yoga has
something to offer for you. Developing and maintaining a regular exercise routine is not easy.
But it a whole lot easier when you do something that engages you, not just physically, but
mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. When physical activity becomes inherently
and immediately rewarding, motivation automatically follows.

This is why yoga is unique. In most forms of exercise, the mind is whipping a reluctant body
into compliance. Yoga is exactly the opposite.  It's about listening to and being present in
your body, about creating greater sensitivity to the subtle ebb and flow of its vital energy. By
deepening your awareness of the body, yoga becomes a path to heed and honor its inherent
wisdom, and connecting with the vital essence at the core of your being.  The result is not just
greater physical health, but over the long term, a profound transformation, as  mind, body,
and emotions gradually blossom into fuller unfoldment.

So it is our hope that you will join us in our exploration of the wonders and potential of yoga
and this magnificent body that we inhabit in our journey through life.  Whether you are new
to yoga or have previous experience, you will find that the practice of yoga is an inspiring and
fulfilling form of movement, which opens your life to new possibilities and wonders, no
matter what your age.

Terry and Eva