The benefits of yoga; stretch it or lose it

ADVICE: It’s a long way from the Bluff Yacht Club to a yoga session in Mairangi Bay in Auckland.

As being active, connecting with others, learning new things and being physically active are four of the five pillars of wellbeing, I was getting a bonus by trying a level 1 vinyasa session at The Yoga Sanctuary. Not that having tea and scones a year ago at the Bluff Yacht club while circumnavigating New Zealand on my boat wasn’t also amazing for my wellbeing. I would recommend both.

But, back to the yoga. I must admit, as a large man who lumbers through life, the thought of doing a yoga session with a bunch of well-groomed North Shore yogis may have been terrifying.

But, being a healthy thinker, I told myself, if I can survive the Southern Ocean, I can survive this.

Our instructor Denise put me at ease with a welcoming smile. My fears were realised, as I was on a mat at the front of the class, about to expose my poor poses and perhaps other parts of my anatomy – normally associated with builders – to the innocent suspects behind.

Lying flat on your back, breathing, letting go and relaxing was a great way to start. I could have spent the whole hour doing that. However, the next line from Denise stating yoga is designed to ‘‘let us know we have a body’’ signalled that it was time to move.

This is true, we often just sit at a screen, on a bus, on the couch and movement is foreign to many of us. The body, rather than being a temple, is more like a mausoleum.

Now, I’m sure Denise was taking it easy on me, but I was surprised how flexible I was and I managed to keep up for the first third of the session. I recall thinking, maybe level 2 wasn’t far away for me, when things started to heat up.

As we progressed through a series of manoeuvres with names I couldn’t understand, my mind began to wonder, ‘‘an hour must nearly be up!’’

I was waiting for more of the Child’s Pose and less of the

Dancer, as my muscles, ligaments and joints began to send me signals that you may be exceeding your limit mate.

Thankfully, the pace began to lessen, no-one had laughed, or laid a complaint about my poses and I felt at one with the group. Well, not quite, but I felt plenty of satisfaction and some chemical endorphins coursed through my consciousness. I slept better that night and my body felt like its proprioception circuits had been restored.

As an emergency doctor, falls in the elderly are a common cause of admission and even death.

While I’m not quite yet in the elderly zone, the less yoga I do, the quicker it will come.

Now this article is not designed for the experienced yogi, but more the male couch potato, or weekend warrior who exercises but never stretches.

If you surf, paddle board or snowboard, flexibility is key to maintaining muscle strength and proprioception. Basically, proprioception is your body knowing where it is in time and space and stretch fibres create balance in opposing muscles that bring you back to centre. Stability is key and my yoga session brought me back to centre on several fronts.

I am looking forward to my next session and I am sure some yoga at the Bluff Yacht Club may even improve their sailing – if they aren’t already doing it.

One of our biggest barriers to change are our core beliefs, so get moving and go get a yoga lesson and improve your physical core. It may change and even save your life.