A few years ago, during one of the Critical Alignment Training with Gert, practically all who attended the course consists of Yoga practitioners who practiced Yoga on a daily basis. In the beginning of the two weeks course, Gert began to press on the question of why we practice Yoga. The question will be best left unanswered in this article until Gert’s next training.
For me, I hold the belief that we are all capable of living life to the fullest. Today, we live in world rich in science and technologies extending normal life span. My dear grandmother just passed away last week at the ripe old age of 102 years. Many said “oh, she has lived long enough”. In my memory, my grandmother spent the last 10 years of her life on wheelchair. To her, living all her waking hours on a wheelchair was undoubtedly not a good experience of “living a life”.
Although modern medicine helps many people lead longer and healthier lives, it has limits. Many of us may fear that medical technology could help us to live longer but leave us dependent on others and in great pain due to musculoskeletal disorders.
Through the years of learning, practicing and teaching Yoga and Critical Alignment Therapy/Yoga, I have come to appreciate and understand what is missing in the traditional definition of strength and fitness. To many, fitness equal endurance plus muscular strength, being able to lift heavyweight or run for hours. Still, many equal housework to fitness workout.
But we failed to acknowledge the importance of spinal mobility and postural strength as we are born with it. A person can complete marathon which prove that he has cardiovascular endurance but may not have the full range of mobility in the lower back, hip and sacrum to complete the run without hurting the knees. So that lead them to acquire pain in later life.
Over the years of practicing and teaching CAT technique, I have realized that common Yoga and physical endurance exercise are inadequate in addressing what the body need in supporting you in the long run and to overcome the faulty movement patterns that arise out of stress and strain.
Being able to improve quality of people’s life is my aim for teaching Yoga. Each of my students play an extraordinary role in someone’s life. As a spouse, child, friend, employee and employer we all need to perform our best. Misaligned bones and pain limit our capabilities and it affects our mood and motivation to live a meaningful life. It is my greatest satisfaction to equip people with tools to help them feel their best and live life to the fullest. I hope many will join me in this fruitful journey.
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