It is not only the prerogative of the young to look glam.
We too can shine at our age and be a glam senior if we project good health, and add a touch of style to our dressing. We do not have to put on false eyelashes, tattoo our eyebrows, plaster our face with heavy make-up or dye our hair jet-black.
Glamour comes from choosing the right clothes for your frame which shows off your vitality. (We’re not talking about designer outfits here, merely the right cut suitable for your body and activity.) Instead of walking with a slow, shuffling gait that ages you, stand tall and stride purposefully. It will add youthfulness to your appearance.
Good health projects this tantalising vitality.
Yoga emphasises the importance of good breathing which will bring in oxygen and positive ions to the body. This will keep the blood fresh and internal organs healthy and the freshness is manifested through the pores to your skin, giving your complexion a more youthful appearance.
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Your skeletal structure
People tend to forget or neglect their inherent skeletal structure. It may seem redundant to say this but each person has her own frame. So, dress and work according to your own body.
Your body’s skeletal structure is the bony framework which protects the organs and soft tissues. This has two divisions:
- The Axial Skeleton – which consists of the bones of the head, neck, chest and back, which protects your brain, spinal cord, heart and lungs
- The Appendicular Skeleton – which consists of the bones of the upper and lower limbs (ie shoulder, arms, legs and pelvis) and the girdles that connect them to the axial skeleton. It protects the digestive, excretive and reproductive organs; nerves and blood vessels
Once you grasp the importance of the health of the spine, you will understand why all yoga postures work on stretching the backbone to its natural curves and focus on good posture.
Any aberration of the backbone can contribute to malfunction of the organs it protects, soft tissues and spinal nerves. If your upper back curves, it can affect your heart, lungs and breathing. All these can lead to all sorts of maladies.
A poor posture over the years can result in chronic back pain. In the old days, people tend to sit on the floor so hips tended to be open, knees were flexed and back tended to be straight. These days we sit on chairs or comfy sofa where we tend to slouch.
These yoga asanas below will alleviate the pain if your backache is from a postural cause. For instance, poor posture can put pressure on the sciatic nerve which runs from the lower spine top the back of your leg, and down to the sole of your feet.
Do work according to your body and its condition. If you don’t find the pose comfortable, it means your body is not ready for the extreme pose, so take it easy on yourself. In holistic yoga, there is no prize for performing the most extreme position. Do remember to breathe and focus on your pose.
(If you have any health issues, please be aware that certain postures may be unsuitable. Do then you work with a qualified yoga professional or therapist on a one-to-one basis for further guidance.)
Upward stretch with slight back bend
Previously, we explained the Cat pose and recommended this posture to stretch the spine evenly. It creates space for the intervertebral discs so that they won’t press on the nerves alongside the spine. Here’s another pose that will stretch the spine.
- Stand on the floor. Being on bare feet is best for support and to pick up the earth energy. Distance of the feet should be your hip-width apart. This gives you stability when you do your upward stretch. You can start with your hands in Prayer position or by your sides. Keep your eyes open.
- Breath in. Open your palms and let them face upward. Stretch overhead. Look up slightly. If it’s viable for you, you can curve your back for a slight backbend. (This curved position is not suitable for some people. If you feel dizzy, stretch your arms upwards)
- Breathe out, bring your arms back into starting position. Start by doing this two times and slowly increase the number to four.
Care must be taken by those suffering from blood pressure issues, lightheadedness or dizzy spells, and with neck problems.
Benefits:
- Stretches the whole of spine – relieves inter-vertebral compression
- Relieves pain from spinal nerve compression
- Lifts diaphragm from any compression
- Opens chest, improves lung capacity
- Opens and regulates the heart chakra
- Corrects upper back curvature
- Tones neck and facial muscles
Fish Pose
This lying down pose is wonderful for relieving immediate back aches. Or when you’ve been sitting in a chair for too long. It is sometimes good for those with sciatica pain along their thigh.
Steps:
- Lie on your front on the mat.
- Bend your arms. Hands should meet, left over right, back of hands facing upwards.
- Bring right elbow down on to waist level.
- Bend your right leg and let your right knee meet your right elbow (or as close as you can).
- Rest your left cheek on the back of your hands.
- Close your eyes
- Breathe in & out. This is one round. Do ten rounds of breathing.
Then, repeat the steps but on your left, with left elbow and left leg bent. Rest on right cheek on your hands.
When you finish, open your eyes, turn on your back and relax in the Corpse pose (Shavasana). Usually you should try to start and end your yoga session with this pose to allow the body to return to its natural state.
Don’t bring your knee up too high or elbow too low if you have abdominal conditions or vertebral fusion. For those with big bellies, put a soft cushion underneath your abdomen.
Benefits:
- Relaxes the spine and whole torso
- Eases any lower back pain
- Relaxes the thigh muscles
- Relaxes muscles in the head and relieves headaches
- Relaxes facial muscles
Step out in style as a glam senior
Makeup does not completely disguise a sallow complexion or sagging facial muscles. Sagging skin and muscles show our age. Yoga postures, like the Upward Stretch, stretch and tone the neck and facial muscles. Continual practice will help us achieve a youthful appearance. Then you will look glamourous when you step out!
We cannot recapture our youth but we certainly can glam things up a bit!
