The OutSPOKEnCyclist

In this final piece of Diane Jenks' three-part series on the benefits of yoga, she discusses standing poses. Along with their benefits related to posture and balance, Diane points to modifications you can make to help yourself into, out of, and maintaining each pose. ...

Feeling hesitant about yoga? Remember that yoga is cumulative. The more often you practice, the easier it becomes and your body will remember what to do. Yoga is also a process that takes as much time as it takes. Try not to set unattainable goals. Starting wherever you are is perfect and we call it "a practice" for a reason! Read on for ideas to help you modify your practice that will make it easier to accomplish certain asanas (postures), and will give you more freedom to deepen your practice because you've made some practical adjustments. ...

If you have ever uttered the words, "Whenever I take a yoga class, I get injured," I ask that you please read this. First of all, that statement is an anathema to me — in fact, it's like nails on a chalkboard. The FIRST principle of yoga philosophy is Ahimsa - "Do No Harm" and that means, especially, no harm to yourself. And, keeping you safe during a yoga class is absolutely as much a teacher's responsibility as it is yours. ...

The weather outside is frightful, so what will make staying in shape delightful? If you put your bike away with the first dusting of snow, you already can feel the loss of some strength in your legs. And, when spring rolls around again and you want to roll out onto your bike, you might feel you’re at ground zero. Here are a few ways to prevent that loss, get into a new routine, and maybe even come out stronger than when you went in! ...

In this time of COVID, many of us are isolated from those we love and may have health concerns that keep us from living our fullest lives. The simple concept of "being" healing — that you adapt your thinking and mindset to being "already well" — makes a lot of sense. These books are "staples" in my library of philosophy and wellness and I hope they might offer you some spiritual, mental, and physical "food for thought." ...

I became a yoga teacher when my mother, who at the time was in her upper 80s, made a decision that "life was not worth living." She defied doctor's orders to just get up out of the chair and walk — the length of the room, to the front door, to the sidewalk, and beyond. Her choice was to remain in that chair and, of course, we know the outcome. It was disheartening, scary and incredibly sad. With her stubborn refusal to do any of it, I came to a swift decision that I would not let myself get to that point in life. ...

Even though we're being encouraged to keep our distance from one another and stay at home longer, we're also being told that going outside for exercise and recreation is a good thing. There are additional encouraging factors at work here — our air is cleaner, our streets are less congested, and people are being much kinder to one another — all great reasons to continue to ride instead of drive. ...

What makes an eBike awesome is that it gets those people back on a bicycle who might have hung up their wheels because of issues like hip or knee replacements, back problems or breathing difficulties. That extra boost up hills smooths out the road and brings back the joy of cycling. ...