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The Person Next to Us

There are times when I get so focused on my Yoga practice and teaching that I miss seeing the opportunity to share its benefits much closer to my home.  My husband had a hip replacement six months ago and he had been making good progress regaining his strength so he could cycle but his flexibility was a challenge.

This past Saturday he asked whether I could share some exercises to help him warm up since he was feeling much too inflexible as he set off on his morning jaunt.  Voila!  The light went off – of course yoga could help him. Why hadn’t I offered this before?  Don’t I do this everyday with all of my students?

I showed him how to ease into sun salutations, using his breath and directing it towards the stiffness.  After a few sets his movements became a little more fluid and the range of motion improved.  Don found it not only helpful for that morning’s bike ride but I think I may have kindled his interest in adding yoga to his routine.  I guess the lesson learned is there are so many potential beneficiaries of yoga and often they are within our line of sight and hearing… and under our own roofs!  We only need look as far as the person standing next to us to spread the word.