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Allowing the Unfolding: Yoga and Aging

by Rahel Wasserfall Ph.D, CIYT

In Sutra 2.1 of Patanjali, we are presented with the 3 instruments  of yoga, Tapas/ enthusiasm, svadyayah/ self study and Isvarah pranidhana/ cultivating humility*. These instruments are a very practical road map for living a full life.  They are universally seen as the main acts of yoga, yet as we age they may attain different valence in one’s life.  How do we allow their wisdom to unfold into a graceful aging process?

The challenges and processes of aging have been the focus of a committed group of Senior Iyengar teachers. In this short essay, I am grappling with our communal learning.  I am grateful to stand at the feet of my dear teachers:  Karin Stephan, Patricia Walden, Eyal Shifroni, Peentz Dubble, Roni Brissette and David Goldblatt**. 

Exploring the means to maintain strength and foster resilience as our bodies age, we learn to be bold  as well as cautious in our approach to our practice. Dwelling on the many facets of BKS Iyengar’s legacy of prop usage help us maintain an active practice for as long as possible. Yoga practiced intelligently moves through the body’s resistance and helps us avoid injuries.  Fostering strength is yet only one aspect of facing our aging, sensitivity to the body we have in each practice  becomes as well central as frailty sets in. Strength, we soon learn is not enough in our unfolding.  We also need tools to shift perspective and move away from a mind of grasping the poses, of wanting to achieve more.  Our younger selves might have wanted to do more and more but such a mind  in an older body creates  suffering. As abilities change, moving away from grasping the poses is essential. We need to shift our approach and discover a mind that uses yoga to find our purpose.  Why is it that we practice? And what is it that we practice?

Incrementality is itself a technique, one that refines our aging body.  Acclimating the body by focusing on the stages of the poses and not our false vision of a final pose becomes a lifeline. We learn to ask what is essential about that pose, what kind of space does it creates in the body. We are reminded of BKS Iyengar’s saying “I used to play, now I stay”. As we work this way each one of us discovers what it is that our practice uncovers.

What unfolded through the seasons of practicing is the challenge of uncovering the wisdom that practice brings.  Where does this work of building resilience slowly with incrementally and shifting our perspective bring us?  What kind of wisdom is discovered by this careful and sensitive work on our  aging bodies and mind?

We certainly must  face the grief of not being able to do what we were able to do years before. For some of us our body might age quicker than our mind, and we feel a lot of grief. This might mean that we push beyond our limits and create more harm than benefit. But sometimes, it is the mind that ages quicker than the body. In that case we might stop before we have to. How do we both keep challenging ourselves appropriately and also not berating ourselves about the losses? How do we learn the art of letting go, of unfolding?

Approaching the practice with curiosity is one piece of wisdom that was unveiled. Can we ask ourselves: what happens when “I do this action, and  then this action?” So, slowing down and penetrating and infusing the body with awareness helps us grasp many layers of our being. This new work of deepening our sensitivity honed by years of practice brings a satisfaction that our younger selves could not have appreciated. Slowing down, we learn to let go of our narrow definition of what advanced work means. 

We stop trying to compare ourselves to the poses in “Light on Yoga”.  Mr. Iyengar was 57 in that book’s images, and he had practiced since he was 12 for many hours a day. We need humility to see that we have not practiced that long or that way, so why should we expect the same results? We need to remind ourselves that as he aged, Mr. Iyengar also practiced differently. He used more props, staying longer in different supported poses. As we age we must find a new balance between doing and not doing, and asking ourselves why are we practicing  and for what purpose? In such a manner we unveil the wisdom of yoga practice. As we practice with awareness, we also become clear of our physical boundaries and the work we need for the body we have at this moment (Tapas/ enthusiasm ).  We accept that there  can be no perfection.  By staying present in our practice , our mind remain steady and does not rush to conclusions. We do not practice for our ego anymore but for being at ease in the body we have (Svadyayah/self study), so that we can have a useful life till the end, (Isvarah pranidhana/humility) . We live our lives moment by moment.

As we shift perspective, we become more aware of ourselves and our connections to the wider world. We understand that all beings are connected, and our gaze moves away from just focusing on our boundaries and what is not working well. By changing perspective we allow ourselves to glimpse the totality of our being, our connections to others, and what “samadhi” could actually mean: being in communion with all beings.

From that changed perspective, we unveil wisdom, we are able to find gratitude and joy for what we have, we can move from despair to hope and joy and back again with a smile. For me seeing my grandchild gives me that window into pure joy, while experiencing  my chronic shoulder pain brings feelings of despair.  Wisdom is to be able to hold both our growing despair in the world as well as future hope. It allows us to move away from seeing only what is not working well, what is broken,  and the litany of our daily bodily woes.The wisdom might be to recognize that the body might feel diminished but our sense of being-ness might be expanding. And we need to learn to live in that tension.

*Translation by Ruben Vasquez in Unravel the Thread

**Since 2022, I have had the wonderful privilege to work with these compassionate, knowledgeable and committed Senior Iyengar Yoga teachers.  Working with Liz Padula at Artemis, we convened the 3 years of the YogaAndAging program. See yogaandaging.com

Season 1: Cultivating Resilience
Season 2: Shifting Perspective
Season 3: Unveiling Wisdom

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Accommodation Policy

Artemis Yoga is committed to enable individuals with disabilities to participate as fully as possible in classes at our yoga studio. On the first level there is a wheelchair accessible entrance, yoga class studio and bathroom.
All classes on the first floor are wheelchair accessible in our flagship, primary studio. The lower level studio is reached by two stairways. In the event that a class in the lower level is not accessible to a participant, the studio owner or manager on-premise will adjust that class location to the first floor, grade level studio. With reasonable notice, this change will readily be made as an accommodation.


The request can be made in person, via email or telephone and advance notice of the request to the studio is appreciated. Artemis Yoga will make an earnest effort and attempt to provide reasonable accommodation pending timely notice by participants needing such accommodations.

Artemis Yoga will also work with the individual to ensure that participation in class is achievable. This may include providing additional props, chairs or hands-on assistance that the teacher is able to deliver while continuing to teach the class to all participants.

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“HOW TO” GUIDE FOR ONLINE CLASSES

Artemis Yoga offers “live” online yoga classes through Zoom. To join, find an inviting space to practice and follow the steps below:

Print Instructions

Step 1: Use your MINDBODY account with Artemis Yoga to register for the class. 

  • Meeting ID in the class description.
  • Please register in advance to streamline attendance and to allow us to send you a recording if you miss the class or join late.
  • Please register even if the class is listed as “free community class.”

Step 2: Log into https://zoom.us/join and enter the Class-Specific Meeting ID then click “Join”.  

  • Meeting ID in the class description. 
  • Start the login process 10-15 minutes before class so that you are ready.
  • We recommend downloading the Zoom client on your computer, laptop, tablet, or phone. You can enter the Meeting ID number from there.

Step 3: Once you click on the Meeting ID, register with your name and email in Zoom. Please use your real name so we can match with Mindbody. You will then be entered in the “Waiting Room.” 

  • The Waiting Room is where Artemis Staff checks attendance. If we can’t identify you from your Zoom user name, you will not be let into class. 
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  • We start letting people in from the Waiting Room 15 minutes prior to class. Large classes take a bit for us to check everyone in, please be patient.

Step 4: When let in from the waiting room, click “Join with Computer Audio.” 

  • We mute participants during class but you may unmute yourself at any time to ask questions or to say hello! We like to see you and greet you, though you may choose to turn your camera off. 
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  • Zoom prompts for consent to be in a recorded class, please accept so you may continue to be in class. Note that the recording is set to record only the teacher who is in the spotlight. Recordings are sent to registrants who are absent.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ONLINE FOR CLASS!