IMPORTANCE OF YOGA FOR WOMEN IN MIDLIFE

 Women play a key role in supporting the household and society in many ways. Going through midlife can drain a woman physically, mentally and emotionally. Our hormones change in midlife and it can be challenging to manage changes that are associated like mood swings, insomnia, lethargy etc.

Traditionally, there are 3 stages of life called kramas. 

Namely- 1. Vriddhi- youth

             2. Stithi- Midlife 

            3. Laya- Old age

In this article we will discuss about the importance of yoga for women in Stithi Krama or midlife. Women between 35-60 years are under this category. This is the stage when the physical growth is not present. Most of the women in the early midlife would be young mothers, working women, home makers, entrepreneurs etc. They need physical strength to run around. Women in late 40’s will be dealing with peri menopause and in early 50’s will be going through menopause. With all the physical and physiological changes the women need to maintain a good health to fulfill their DHARMA or duty as a mother, wife, home-maker and also in her career.

YOGA plays an important role in a woman’s life by helping her stay flexible and strong physically and emotionally. The holistic approach of yoga in the PANCHAMAYA MODEL helps them stay physically fit. Integrating breath will energize and relax the body.  

A regular yoga practice will increase the stamina, improves deeper physiological functions and immunity levels. A good practice can change the patterns of mind that get translated into the body as each individual experiences the posture in a different way and it certainly influences the personality. The connection between the body, breath and mind increases the joy of practice and help us sustain in doing yoga regularly.

KRISHNAMACHARYA said that a holistic yoga practice creates NAVASARIRA SAMSKARA, meaning RECONDITIONING the body/ creating a new conditioning of the body, which enables us to understand something more about the body that we have not understood through old patterns.

SARIRA SAMYAMA helps the woman to be totally present in the posture, mind being completely absorbed in the experience of the body, thus being present in the moment and improve mindfulness.

ASANAS play an important role in maintaining good physical health, flexibility and strength of the spine, the basic support of the human structure. ASANAS also prepare the body, breath and mind for higher practices like pranayama and meditation.

PRANAYAMA practice is the deliberate extension and regulation of breath replacing the unconscious patterns of breathing. A good pranayama practice will prepare the mind to focus that leads to DHARANA and DHYANA/ MEDITATION.

Asanas like Tadasana, Uttanasana, Parsva bhangi, Virabhadrasana, Trikonasana, Surya namaskar help in alignment of spine, increasing strength and flexibility. Asanas like Urdhva Prasarita Padasana, Apanasana, Dwipadapitam, Jatara parivritti etc strengthens the abdominal organs, uterus, back and legs and they also increase your metabolism. 

Pranayamas like Anulom vilom, Bhramari, Ujjayi breathing will help in regulating the PRANA flow and calming down.

It is advisable to start a practice under a teacher’s guidance and slowly progress towards self practice.