On my way to work to teach yoga, I sometimes see folks using a cane or walking sticks to help them move along. It is good exercise and an excellent reason to enjoy the day outside. But beneath the activity is a voice that says, “I must keep moving. If I stop moving, I’ll lose my ability to move altogether.” The motivation? The movement today will ensure movement tomorrow. It’s not entirely true. The problem is we walk and exercise in a way that accommodates and often reinforces the very patterns that contribute to the restrictions (in and around our joints). We move around the limitation, which means movement alone will not increase mobility. If we want to remain mobile and youthful in our bodies for a lifetime, we need a way to identify and resolve the patterns and the rigidity they create.
Bodily limits and restrictions often lack feeling while having painful effects on other body parts. In a way, pain is a decoy. In an ongoing effort to eliminate it, we chase the pain and thus avoid the real problem. Rigidity shows up as a limited range of motion and loss of strength and balance. Rather than moving more or doing more exercise, we need a way to isolate the problems so we can do something about them.
Moving or exercising our way out of a problematic pattern brings temporary benefits because it does not get to the heart of the problem. The restriction is usually in and around the joints. Both must resolve to get lasting change.
Avita Yoga identifies the restrictions and patterns while simultaneously resolving them. And when lost movement is restored, circulation improves, which means better health and less pain. With Avita Yoga as a regular practice, life and the activities you love come with more freedom and joy—including that casual walk down the street.
