Is there a way to simplify sun salutation.?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I want to teach my father sun salutation, he has asthma and slightly restricted mobility. (68 years old & never been much into keeping fit & is an ex heavy smoker)

So I had the idea that he could perform the first two moves normally as best as he can and then I could perhaps adapt the others as required…

for the third move he could just extend his leg back but keep his hands upon his knees without touching them to the floor.

But for the downward dog and the other positions I kinda hit a stumbling block on how to adapt them. can it be done.?

thx. :slight_smile:

#2

Namaste Saturdaysun,

I like to teach this shorter form to older people who are less flexible and whose mobility might be challenged and I have found that they usually find good results from it. Over time you can increase the speed to make it more aerobic and to get the heart rate up a little. I have taught this to my mother and she do a few rounds every morning as part of her fitness programme, she is also a smoker, 61 and overweight. She likes it becasue I am not always available to help her and it is easy to remember the steps.

In step 4 - first do the right leg back and then in the next round do it the left leg back, alternating with each round. And adapt it to be as comfortable for your father as possible, I had to adapt this step dramatically for my mom in terms of where her hands are and how far back she can stretch her leg.

Hope this helps.

#3

I like that variation as well, Pandara. It’s great too because there’s no pressure on the wrists.

#4

In Purna Yoga, the yoga in which I practice, am trained, and teach, elderly students or those who are very immobile begin work using the Stiff Person’s Series. Surya Namaskar, while adaptable, is often a bit much for such a person.

#5

[QUOTE=Pandara;15751]Namaste Saturdaysun,

I like to teach this shorter form to older people who are less flexible and whose mobility might be challenged and I have found that they usually find good results from it. Over time you can increase the speed to make it more aerobic and to get the heart rate up a little. I have taught this to my mother and she do a few rounds every morning as part of her fitness programme, she is also a smoker, 61 and overweight. She likes it becasue I am not always available to help her and it is easy to remember the steps.

In step 4 - first do the right leg back and then in the next round do it the left leg back, alternating with each round. And adapt it to be as comfortable for your father as possible, I had to adapt this step dramatically for my mom in terms of where her hands are and how far back she can stretch her leg.

Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]

cool thats just exactly what I wanted. :cool: