June 5, 2024 • 41 mins
In this episode, yoga instructor Leda Huta joins us to discuss the transformative power of yoga for holistic healing, graceful aging, and confident living. Leda shares her wisdom on how yoga unites the mind, body, and spirit, promoting physical strength, flexibility, and balance while also fostering a deep sense of mindfulness and self-connection.
We highlight how yoga can be a vital tool in aging with resilience, strength, and vitality. We draw inspiration from renowned figures like B.K.S. Iyengar and share anecdotes that showcase the benefits of a consistent yoga practice—such as maintaining muscle mass, balance, and mental sharpness. Leda and I discuss fascinating research on the mind-body connection, shedding light on how mental engagement through yoga can lead to improved capacities.
If you're new to yoga, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you get started. We provide tips on finding the right beginner-friendly classes and managing your meal times around yoga sessions for a more comfortable experience. We explore various types of yoga practices, making yoga accessible to everyone, including those with chronic illnesses. Tune in to discover how yoga can be a transformative tool for living a balanced and fulfilling life.
Additionally, we announce our upcoming workshop series, "Transformative Wellness," happening in Bethesda, Maryland this summer. Visit kellybhaney.com/events for more info!
Website: www.kellybhaney.com
Email: info@kellybhaney.com
Instagram: @kellybhaney
Facebook: Kelly B Haney Wellness
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Welcome to the Heal and Stay Healed podcast, where
we talk about healing and, moreimportantly, staying healed from
chronic disease and otherailments and issues.
We'll cover all the crazythings about health and life the
good, the bad, the ugly and thehilarious.
My name is Kelly and I'm asurvivor and overcomer of severe
(00:31):
autoimmune disease, and I can'twait to share with you what
I've learned so that you canheal and stay healed too.
Thanks for listening and enjoythe show.
Hello there and welcome back.
(00:53):
I am so glad you're here forthis episode all about what has
been and what continues to beone of my favorite healing tools
, that is, the practice of yoga.
Our guest today is yogainstructor Lita Huta.
Lita is such a gentle andcalming presence and in this
episode she has a whole lot toteach us about yoga and the
(01:14):
incredible role that it can playin our lives.
We look at yoga from theperspectives of the physical,
spiritual and philosophical,while discussing its role in
holistic wellness, as it sobeautifully encapsulates the
mind-body-spirit connection thatis so vital for our healing.
We talk about how yoga promotesgrowing older with grace and
(01:37):
strength.
We give out a lot of tips forthose who may be new to yoga and
we announce a workshop seriesthat we are jointly hosting this
summer called TransformativeWellness, which, of course,
includes yoga.
A little bit about Lita beforewe get started.
Lita took her first yogaclasses at the YMCA while living
in a small town, but didn'tbegin her practice in earnest
(01:58):
until she moved back to the DCarea and began classes with
Moses Brown at Willow StreetYoga.
Soon after her child was born,Lita deepened her practice,
taking a nine-month immersion inthe philosophy of yoga as a way
to establish a spiritualpractice as a parent.
Not wanting that experience toend, Lita immediately enrolled
in a nine-month teacher trainingat Willow Street Yoga,
(02:20):
completing her 200-hour yogacertification in 2010.
She has taught yoga now formore than 10 years in a variety
of settings.
Lita teaches an alignment-basedyoga practice that brings a
lightness to the poses and afocus on the breath.
There's so much good stuff inthis episode, so let's get going
.
Here we are with Lita Huta.
Welcome, Lita to the show.
(02:43):
Thanks for joining us today.
Thank you.
Thank you for having show.
Thanks for joining us today.
Thank you, Thank you for havingme.
Can you tell us a little bitabout yourself?
Where in the world are you andhow do you spend your days?
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Sure, I live in Maryland, in Silver Spring, in
the Anacostia watershed, and Ispend my days.
I've been working for a longtime in the nonprofit world on
conservation.
I've worked to save wildlifeand now I'm working more at a
sort of watershed levelprotecting clean water.
(03:15):
And then I have a family thattakes my time and a recently
rescued Siberian husky, sospending time with them.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Awesome, all right, and we're going to tackle the
elephant in the room.
Is that?
I actually know you pretty well?
We're just going to put thatout there.
We've known each other for huhWow, I didn't have to do math
real quick 12, 13 years,something like that.
Lita is my beloved yogainstructor Every Monday night
(03:48):
the best class ever Lita hasbeen the instructor was the
instructor for many years, tooka little break, came back.
One of the best days of my lifewas the day that you reached
out to me and said I'm ready tocome back now.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
I was very excited to come back.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So you also do a little bit of yoga instructing.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, I get to practice yoga and teach yoga and
it's such a great part of mylife.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well before we get talking on our topic today,
which no surprise is going to beabout yoga and its impact for
our healing and staying healed,I wanted to ask you just a
get-to-know-you question so thateveryone can become a little
more familiar with you.
You mentioned your work withwildlife.
You mentioned your little I'veheard stories so I can say your
(04:39):
naughty Siberian husky.
I know you have a very strongconnection to animals.
Is there one animal inparticular that you feel like
you can relate to the most, andwhy?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, I mean there are so many animals that I'm
particularly connected to thatI've spent time with as a kid.
You know I used to love frogs.
I still do.
I spent a lot of time catchingpoor frogs probably the same
frog over and over circlinggrandparents' ponds that they
had at their house.
But now I live in this townhousecommunity and there's always
(05:17):
deer that are semi-tame walkingthrough and they're just usually
walking and eating thevegetation.
But there's just been like anumber of experiences that I've
had where something washappening, something big was
happening or challenging ordifficult, and those few times
I've looked in the backyard andhad like a deer just bedded down
(05:39):
which is not something thatthey usually do in my yard and
like, particularly when, rightwhen I first moved in, there was
a lot of doubt and I don't knowuncertainty about where I was
living and I just woke up in themorning and there was this big
buck there with his huge antlersand yeah, and I just feel like
they show up, you know, when Ikind of need reassurance in some
(06:01):
fashion.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
That's really cool.
They're very mysterious andmajestic creatures.
I would say All right, well,let's dig into why you're here,
and that is to talk about yogaand in previous podcast episodes
I have mentioned yoga manytimes of just how I took my
first class and just fell inlove with it.
(06:25):
It is truly a mind, body andspirit experience and it has
been a spectacular tool in myhealing toolbox and I give it a
lot of credit in helping me tostay healed for so many years
and, by default, I give you alot of credit for helping me to
stay healed for so many years.
Can you just start by?
(06:46):
Let's just talk about yoga.
What is it?
What is it not?
Give us the overview and also,how did you find yourself
getting involved in yoga andwanting to become an instructor?
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Sure, well, yoga the word itself is a Sanskrit word,
it comes from the base of it ishuge, like union, is really what
it means.
And so it's a very ancientpractice, though something that
has been, I would say, morerefined in the last decade
century.
Traditionally, it's seen oftenas like an eight-limbed practice
(07:24):
, so there are things likemeditation and pranayama and
breathing, and what we think ofoften in the US is yoga is one
of those limbs and that's thephysical practice, what we would
, you know the intention is toreach a peaceful mind really,
(07:49):
and then sort of the classicaltradition, and so it's.
This physical practice is areally important part of that
and it's sort of feeling, thewaves of the mind.
It's a really important andinteresting part of the healing
that it's very connected to mindand spirit.
So that's, I think, what setsit apart from other physical
(08:10):
practices.
And when you say what it's not,ideally, it's not just like
you're not just doing somephysical exercise.
I started practicing I wouldhave to do math now a long time
ago, probably more than 20 yearsago, maybe 30 years ago, and I
(08:30):
was interested in it.
It seemed healing and I did itfor a long time and then, as I,
when I got pregnant, I had mydaughter pregnant.
I had my daughter.
I got more.
I delved much more deeply intoit because I was thinking more
consciously about what am Iteaching her?
How am I going to raise her?
(08:51):
What beliefs do I want to helpraise her in?
And I would say yoga is not areligion.
But often, like practitionersuse the word technology I might
use like more philosophy, um, itprovided some grounding.
And like what do I want to passon to my child?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
yeah, yeah, interesting.
You say no, it's not a religion, but it certainly feels very
spiritual.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Yeah and then I think you know it doesn't matter what
religion you are, you you canpractice.
You certainly can practice yoga, and it shouldn't contradict
people's beliefs in any way.
It's very supportive, of course.
It has fundamental core beliefsand particularly that word
union and how we are allconnected is really very
(09:41):
essential is really veryessential.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I remember my very first yoga class, which was a
little bit before you joined us,but I was just coming out of my
massive year-long flare.
I was a skinny little thingshowing up to my first yoga
class.
You know pretty much no muscle.
I'd just been through a lot andgoing through that class and
lying there in Shavasana at theend and just kind of reflecting,
I realized that that was thefirst time I'd really had a
(10:12):
positive experience with my ownbody for over a year at that
point and it was the first timethat I felt really positively
connected to my body and that isa feeling that has never left
since every class.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Well, that's so interesting to hear you say that
, because I think for many of uswe're trying to be grateful for
what we have and not takethings for granted, and often we
have to have, you know, thatjeopardized or taken away in
some fashion to reallyappreciate what you have and
that relationship to your body.
I appreciate hearing you saythat you're you know you had
(10:53):
that experience of connection, Iwould say, and and I think
shavasana is a reallyinteresting and unique part,
right like what other exercisedo you do, where then you just
kind of lie down and you see howyou feel.
You know it's like an inventoryof your body and you just let
your mind kind of let go.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
For folks who've never done yoga it's hard, like
you're saying, it's really hardto understand the mind-body
connection and just themindfulness that goes into yoga.
Where I know yoga has made mestronger, yoga has made me more
flexible, yoga has made me morelimber, but the more tangible
aspect of healing that I'vereceived from yoga is that
(11:38):
connection.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I always find it interesting the, the yogis, the
masters, you know they'vewritten a lot of things down,
like the Yoga Sutra, thePatanjali Road, and you know
these beliefs and some of themare not necessarily, were not
necessarily very common, I wouldsay, in the US.
And you know the western part ofthe world in the US and you
(12:06):
know the Western part of theworld and it's always really fun
to me to see science here inthe US sort of catching up to
what the yogis have alwaysthought and believed.
You know, and there's lots ofresearch around how beneficial
yoga is, but also research thatshows you, oh well, the things
that yoga was saying wasaccurate, even if the research
is not about yoga.
(12:27):
And there's lots of researcharound, like there's a
researcher in Harvard doinginteresting things showing sort
of the mind-body connection andhow that impacts your health and
how you age, or you can say,age with grace, and so you read
that and it's like you know.
I just feel like yoga getsreaffirmed over and over again
(12:49):
often in the science and thatconnection to mind and heart.
It's something that we'restarting to show.
Many of us like to seescientific proof, like not
everybody, but there's manypeople who don't want to believe
that it's real unless there's ascientist who's shown it.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
so yeah, okay, we are talking about the non-physical
benefits of yoga, but I want totake this opportunity to bust
the myth such as yoga is easy.
Anybody can do that.
Like it's just you're going inthere and you know you're're
meditating and, yeah, you'relying down.
Like what is that?
It is not easy.
(13:33):
Physically.
Yoga is a challenge and that'spart of the beauty of it is that
you don't have to go in the gymand lift 50 pound weights or do
anything like that.
You're using your own body toget stronger and it's not easy.
What kind of person would yousay is ideal for looking to yoga
to gain physical strength?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
I am of the belief that anybody benefits from yoga.
I feel like any healthy personcan build strength in yoga.
I think that, like 100 hundredpercent includes men.
You know you do headstand orhandstand, you hold arm balance
poses.
You're going to like even downdog, like very physically fit
(14:16):
people who aren't practicingthat.
You hold down dog for as longas we hold it in class.
You start sweating and shakingand you feel that For women we
often don't have as much upperbody strength.
I find a really pleasant way ofbuilding up upper body strength
for women and stamina and upperbody strength, like holding the
(14:37):
pose.
And, of course, if you arerebounding from illness I've had
, I've had a student who's likejust coming back, like in
remission from cancer.
You know, if you are elderly,like of course, if you have
something special like thatcoming back from illness or
you're you're elderly, you candefinitely build strength in a
(15:01):
safe way.
As with every exercise, youhave to be careful.
You have to be careful incertain poses, you have to
really listen to your body, etcetera.
But it's particularly nice inthose situations.
But again, anyone can benefitfrom yoga.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
All right, I think now is a good time to announce
that you and I are soon tobecome more than teacher-student
.
We are teaming up to create aworkshop series together, called
the Transformative WellnessWorkshop Series, which will be
focused on the topics ofunlocking lasting health through
(15:38):
nourishing nutrition,empowering lifestyle upgrades
and soul-serving simplicity Alltopics near and dear to my heart
and regularly discussed on thispodcast and these workshops
will be coupled with yourleading of gentle restorative
yoga practices that pair quitewell with the discussion topics.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Yeah, I'm really excited about that.
I think it's really importantin our modern, frantic lives to
create space for reflection onhow you're living, how can I
support myself, how can I takecare of myself.
So I'm excited to be able togive people that space and
opportunity to connect with uson this issue.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yes, absolutely.
I know we're both reallyexcited for this opportunity to
engage with attendees in whatwill hopefully be a
life-changing experience.
The first workshop UnlockingLasting Health Through
Nourishing Nutrition is takingplace on June 15th at Sweet Bay
Yoga in Bethesda, maryland, justoutside of Washington DC, and
(16:47):
then the following workshopswill take place at Sweet Bay in
July and August.
So if you are in the DC area orwill happen to be visiting
during that time this summer, wewould love to have you join.
Go to my website my new andimproved website, by the way to
have you join.
Go to my website my new andimproved website, by the way
kellybhaneycom, and you can goto the speaking and events page
(17:11):
there to find signup information.
Of course, send any questionsmy way at info at kellybhaneycom
.
All right, let's talk aboutaging, and this is a topic that
I'm noticing myself and in mypeer group.
This is a conversation thatwe're starting to have, and you
are a little ahead of me inyears, so I know that this is
(17:32):
probably a conversation thatyou've been having for a while
now.
So let's talk about how yogacan really benefit us as we look
to age gracefully, and Ibelieve and I know you believe
that, in order to age gracefully, we really need to embrace
aging.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Absolutely, yes, absolutely.
It's just so supportive forthat mindset and for just
getting our bodies and our mindsand our spirit into that place.
So one of the probably theperson who introduced yoga to
(18:14):
the West named BKS Iyengar.
He's passed away, but heintroduced Iyengar yoga and
there's there's many styles ofyoga in the U S Um, but that
that was a very important oneand it's a very important one,
and he certainly is a model forlike what you can continue to do
(18:34):
if you practice yoga.
And you know, of course, he wasvery strong and very flexible
and can do all sorts of posesand continued that into his old
age.
But even as he was older, he,you know, he did adapt and chose
his poses mindfully.
One of the things I think isreally cool is like how you
(18:55):
think of yourself.
How do you think about yourselfas you age.
There's someone that practiceswith me and she is older I'd say
you know, 70s and she caneasily do hanuman, which is like
a split um.
You know she does likeincredible poses, right, and so
(19:18):
there's two things that aregoing on there.
One is that she's just beenpracticing, so she's limber and
she's, you know, she's just beengoing.
For decades she's been doingthis practice.
So that's the physical part,but the mental part is, you know
, because she's been doing itshe feels like I can do this and
(19:38):
so, like the mind has comealong with her.
I was mentioning there wasthere's a researcher in harvard
and she she does all sorts oflike interesting studies and she
did this one study where shetook a group of men sort of back
in time and like so she tookthem to location and the whole
the house, the clothes, the, themusic, television, there were
(20:02):
no mirrors.
It was all like back in timeand they had to act like they
were back 30 years or something,I don't know how many years,
but like, let's say, a couple ofdecades, and she tested them on
a number of things related toage, before and after, like
dexterity and all these things,and they were much more useful
at the end of that experiment.
(20:22):
I think the most shocking thingof all of those was that their
vision improved.
Wow.
And so just so she's justshowing these sort of mind body
connections in the kind ofresearch that she's doing.
She did this other study whereshe gave people I think they
were in nursing homes studywhere she gave people I think
(20:45):
they were in nursing homesplants, and she divided them
into two groups and said onegroup was like you have to take
care of these plants, you're incharge and you're also in charge
of your schedule.
And then the other group shesaid the staff is going to take
care of these plants for you andthey're going to manage your
schedule.
And 18 months later, the plantcaretakers twice as many were
alive as the other group.
(21:07):
You know and she reallyattributes that to you know how
the mind was engaged and so,yeah, so the the importance of
yoga and aging, I think, is socritical because of that mind
component can't beunderestimated.
But also, of course, like wejust talked about, we are
building muscle mass, which youknow what my understanding is?
(21:27):
That it feeds the bones, thatit's really important.
You know you're keeping yourstamina going, you're keeping
your strength going, you'repracticing balance, which is
just not something that wepractice enough, and so, of
course, that can help you inavoiding injury, avoiding falls.
Probably many of us knowsomebody who's like, broken a
hip and maybe it was never thesame again.
(21:49):
That was like the beginning ofa decline for them, do you know?
Um, and so having that havingthat sort of balance.
My grandmother, she didn'tpractice yoga but she she
gardened and she essentiallygardened in the pose Uttanasana,
just a standing forward bend.
She was doing a standingforward bend, probably at least
(22:11):
an hour to two hours a day,probably like at least three
times a week in in the warmermonths, in the warmer months,
and we were always, you know, wewere always trying to
accommodate her and be likehere's this little bench, here's
this like little knee pad thingthat you can, you can use when
you garden.
And she was always like thankyou, that's so nice.
And she set it aside and neverused it.
(22:32):
And later I was like, oh, she'sjust she's doing it with
Sanasana and like, look at howshe moves.
She moves like a person who ismaybe a decade younger or like
15 years younger.
If you didn't see her littlegray hair, you know what I mean.
From behind, you just saw her.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
If you saw her walking, you would have thought
she was a younger person that'sa good example of of the old
phrase if you don't use it, youlose it absolutely and it's it's
, you know, yoga.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Of course, as we age, we get like hunched over or
people can and often do.
I think there's even a word forthat sort of like hump that you
get in the back and because ofhow we are, modern lives right,
we're like circled around ourcomputer, we're driving our car.
It's all very sort of forwardrounding that we do.
(23:23):
And in yoga you're trying tothink about the back body and
the front body, east and west,and lengthening through the body
.
You know you're often beinginstructed to lengthen your
torso from your hips throughyour armpits.
There's different instructions,different cues that yoga
(23:43):
teachers give but that likeconstant length and lengthen,
keeping the front body open andthat keeps you tall.
I mean, I think you know I talkabout like I have a family
member who was taller than meand younger than me and now, now
I'm taller, I don't even knowhow that's possible, but I
(24:07):
credit the yoga for really justkeeping.
It's both the physical, butalso like bringing your
attention back to like what areyou doing with your body, how
are you using it?
You?
Speaker 2 (24:18):
know.
Yeah, I have to say, eventhough I only see you on Monday
nights, you're kind of with meall week long, because I can't
even tell you how many timesduring the course of a week I
hear your voice saying roll yourshoulders onto your back and I
stand up straighter and I kindof inadvertently do a little
mountain pose.
And you're right, it makes adifference Even in just the way
(24:41):
that you present yourself, theway that you feel about yourself
, the practices that you learnduring yoga class you take with
you and I feel like you presentyourself with more confidence.
We're not sitting for hours.
(25:04):
I work really hard on that too,to remember just the practice
of movement, and there can bedays when I very easily could be
sitting here at the desk foreight hours.
I'm sure you feel the same way.
So it's like okay, well, timeto get up, time to take a break,
let's move, yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
The body is.
The body is meant to move right, and we talked about that at
the beginning.
Just like don't get stuckbehind your chair for eight
hours or more a day, and that'sjust.
We take that for granted thatwe'll be able to get up and move
.
You know at any point that wewant to and while you can,
(25:37):
please do that.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
That's great, great advice Do it while you can so
that you still can.
Yes, that's a little part.
Some other things that you'vementioned.
I take mental notes whenever wetalk about embracing aging in
class.
You've mentioned things likepreventing osteoporosis.
We've talked about the bonehealth and the bone
strengthening.
Also, your ligaments.
Yoga is helping with ligaments,which is really important
(26:00):
because that can cause someserious injury ligament injury
or ligament tears.
And recently, just last week,you mentioned one I hadn't
really thought about is varicoseveins and the prevention of
varicose veins.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Yeah, I mean yoga is seen as beneficial for all of
your systems, right, and thereare a number of poses that are
considered inversions even downdog is considered an inversion
and the ones that might come topeople's minds more like hand
stand or half handstand andheadstand.
But you know, we're justreversing that flow of blood.
(26:35):
For me that was definitelysomething I hadn't really
thought about.
You know, you just like takeyoga and you sort of kind of
feel good and you keep going andyou don't think about
necessarily like oh, are therethings that this is healing?
But I certainly my awesomegrandmother that I mentioned.
She had varicose veins and itcan be, as some of your
(26:56):
listeners may know.
You know it can be superficial,you can just see it on the legs
, but it can also cause a lot oflike fatigue and soreness, I
guess I would say in the legs.
Um, so that's what I really had.
I had soreness and one day,after you know, a couple years
of practicing, I was like, oh,that really just went away.
I don't feel that anymore.
So inversions are really nicefor that and these like
(27:20):
circulatory issues that youmight have are just improved by
yoga.
And you know, again, you don'tneed the science to tell you
that you can just go andpractice yoga, but science is
also showing it.
You know, there there arestudies on cellular aging, on
mobility, on balance, on mentalhealth and cognitive functioning
(27:43):
, preventing cognitive decline.
I wish that for everyone youknow, to try it out and see the
ways in which it may besupporting you that you might
not have even considered that itcould.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Yeah, for anyone who has never tried yoga, what
advice do you have for a firsttimer?
Because, like everything elsethat's new, it can be a little
intimidating if you've nevergone before and you're going to
a yoga class full of yogis thathave been doing this for a while
.
What advice would you give tosomeone who really wants to try
(28:15):
it but is feeling a littleintimidated?
Speaker 1 (28:18):
It's one of the things that you learn in yoga
class too, right right, is payattention to just what's
happening on your mat.
Of course, if you're not sureabout a cue, like you know, look
up to see what other people aredoing, but really try to stay
just focused on your own mat andknow that everybody else in
class is just trying to do it.
(28:38):
Also, you know they're notwatching you.
They are trying to figure outthe pose themselves and that's a
practice.
I think it's nice to positionyourself in a yoga class when
you're brand new, like towardsthe back, towards the middle, so
that you have people around youwho are, who know the poses.
(29:00):
And if you're getting you know,it depends on who your teacher
is.
If they don't immediatelynotice that you might be a
little lost.
You can look and see.
So I like that position forbeginners, like middle backs and
surrounded by people who know,and then staying focused on your
mat, what is happening in thatspace.
Know that others are not payingattention to you hopefully the
(29:20):
teacher is, but others are notand attention to you Hopefully
the teacher is, but others arenot and then it will come with
practice.
Yoga is so much about thejourney and not about, like,
what happened that one day.
It is a long-term journey andone of the things that you will
(29:40):
hopefully gain is you will beginto see sort of the witness of
yourself.
You know, you'll begin to seethat part of yourself that is
like the running mind of like,oh, I'm not sure I'm doing this
pose right.
I wish I was better at that.
Oh, look at her over there onthat mat.
She looks so perfect in thatpose and I'll never be able to
be as good as that.
Do you know what I mean?
So eventually, hopefully, if youpractice yoga, you start to
(30:04):
notice like the chatter that'sgoing on in your mind and you're
like oh, my mind is chatteringand just bringing that like
notice and attention, it maystart to just naturally fade
away.
You know you'll, you will seethat it's not really serving you
.
You've noticed it and it willfade away.
See that it's not reallyserving you.
(30:24):
You've noticed it and it willfade away.
I think definitely when youfirst start the practice, there
can be like that sense of.
I mean it's like when you doany exercise anywhere.
You know you like join a danceclass or whatever, and you're
like I'm new to this, but thedifference is that in yoga
you're like encouraged to like,notice what you're thinking,
notice the negative chatter, andthen it can just more naturally
(30:45):
ease away and hopefully youbring that off the mat later to
your life in general.
That's the goal.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Yeah, and I know a lot of people often get
intimidated if they're you know,maybe quote unquote not in
shape or they have an injury orsome sort of issue.
You've made it a point,especially in our class, to say
there are modifications, youdon't have to come in an athlete
to be able to have a successfulyoga class.
(31:14):
So for that person who'sfeeling uncomfortable because
maybe they just haven't done anyphysical exercise in a long,
long time, what would you say tothem?
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Yeah, I'm happy that you raised that, because I think
also people will say I'm notflexible, so I do yoga kind of
like the reverse right, it'slike the least flexible that
maybe you might want to join.
I would look for a beginnerclass, a gentle class, a yoga
(31:49):
101 to start with.
I would consider finding analignment-based studio and a
Yengar studio is oftenalignment-based so that you
really first learn how to lineyourself up and it's slower so
(32:09):
you have more time.
There's flow.
Classes are very, very popular,so there's lots of flow classes
.
That's faster and so that canbe a little bit more
intimidating and also it's justnice to to learn the proper
alignment before you do those.
So so that's what I would lookfor.
I would I look for likeintroductory classes, one-on-one
(32:30):
classes, yangar yoga classes.
The studio where I teach SweetBay yoga is they're doing a
series of and they'll do thismultiple times of like
one-on-one you know.
So if you haven't stepped in tothe class ever, is really
geared to like full-on beginners.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Oh, that's great.
Another tip I've given topeople before is try to get
there a few minutes early andtalk to the other students.
Talk to the teacher in advance,if you can.
Like everywhere else in lifewhen you enter a new scene, it
just makes it a little morecomfortable, a more comfortable
experience if you have somebreathing room, if you're able
to connect with the others alittle bit beforehand, and I
(33:11):
always try to be that classregular who is there early and
can help make the new peoplefeel welcome.
So hopefully wherever you go,there will be someone who's
doing that.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Yes, that is a good point too.
It's a little bit like findingthe right therapist, like
finding the right studio.
If you, you know, if you havean experience and you feel like
that's not for me, you know, itmight not be that it's not for
you.
It just may be that instructoris not a fit for you, or that
studio is not a fit for you,yeah, so, or maybe even that
(33:43):
style.
So, if you're willing and alittle bit adventurous, try
again, try for another place andsee, that's great.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
Yeah, and yoga is therapy, so that was a good
example.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Yeah, any, other suggestions for folks who are
new to yoga.
Yeah, I think, like with otherexercises, you want to be
conscious of when you're eatingand how much you're eating.
Before yoga class, um, youprobably don't want to eat right
before.
You probably want to giveyourself maybe an hour, an hour
and a half, um, and probably notlike a huge, huge meal.
(34:21):
Um, because you are you, youmay be going upside down, you
know, you may be doing twistswhich are really beneficial for
the body, but not great on afull stomach, yeah.
So sometimes people strugglewith, like, the time of the yoga
class and when am I going toeat?
And so, just like figuring thatout, allowing yourself to have
(34:41):
something smaller earlier youknow what I mean and then have
something like we have our yogaclass in the evening, our
classes at seven, and so somepeople eat a light dinner at
five and some of us, like me, Iwill, I'll have like a snack,
like I'll have some fruitearlier and then I'll have maybe
soup after dinner.
It's kind of a late dinner, soI don't want something super
(35:02):
heavy.
So you know you, you learn toaccommodate your body, but don't
, don't be overstuffed.
That won't make for a pleasantexperience.
No, that would be unpleasant.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
I kind of plan my Mondays around yoga because it's
that important to me.
I actually leave work a littleearly to have my five o'clock
dinner on Mondays.
I joke with my mom because mymom and dad often go to dinner
really early.
That's me on Monday.
I'm not a big fan of eatinglater in the evening.
(35:35):
It just doesn't work well forme.
So I'm like everybody get outof my way.
I got to get home and havedinner.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Yeah, it is nice to eat earlier rather than later,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Probably one final thing that in just thinking of
additional tips, is that worksreally great for us to do it
Monday evening.
Some people who are moremorning people a lot of studios
have like 6 am classes.
Right, you can fit it in beforework.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Yes, exactly, there are definitely studios that have
like 6 am classes.
There's studios that havelunchtime classes, you know.
So you can work it into yourschedule.
And I guess I should say, youknow you would ask about like
first time or people withdifferent issues happening and,
depending on the system, someare really prop heavy, um, and
(36:23):
so there's different.
There's just different types,right.
So there's there's bikram andother hot yoga.
So if you are somebody who justlike wants to sweat it out, um,
and you just really like wantto lose weight, you know that's
a system that people use.
Um, ashtanga yoga is a kind thatis is it's quite physical.
(36:45):
So if you're looking for likethe most physically challenging,
maybe, that's, maybe that wouldbe a good one.
You know, if you want somethinglike a little bit of get your
heart rate up a little bit, itmight be more of a flow yoga.
And if you're first startingout or you have any health
issues or you like alignmentbased, you know Iyengar is, you
(37:07):
know, as I said, it's probablylike a foundational one that
started here in the US and thatuses a fair amount of props, and
so it's also really good ifyou're, if you're older, if
you're.
If you've had injuries, youknow you need to accommodate,
like you have a shoulder injuryor whatever.
That style has a lot ofvariations and it gives you a
(37:28):
lot of props to sort of supportyou.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Okay.
So we talked about how yoga isbeneficial for fostering the
mind-body connection, forspiritual healing, for aging
gracefully and embracing aging.
We talked about how it's just areally good physical workout.
I think we did a pretty goodjob today, convincing folks that
(37:52):
yoga is a really, reallyincredible tool, not just for
healing, not just for stayinghealed, but just for anyone who
wants to look at taking aholistic approach to their
health and to their wellness.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
Yeah, and I think if you're seeing a doctor there's
so many, I mean, I've hadmultiple doctors say, oh well,
yeah, that's what you're dealingwith.
I was going to suggest yoga aspart of your you know what I
mean as part of your healing.
So if you don't believe us, askyour doctor.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
For sure.
And again, just speaking to myfolks out there who are
currently battling withautoimmune or other chronic
disease, please just give it atry.
Yoga can be very gentle, youdon't have to dive right in,
it's just.
Again was just such a powerfulway for me to find that
connection that had been lostwith my body, and I want that
(38:48):
for you too.
So please give it a try.
Lita, every Monday night at theend of class, you wrap things
up by reading us a beautiful andmeaningful quote.
I think that's a perfect way toend this podcast episode.
Would you take us out with oneof those quotes?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yes, I would love to.
Let me share a quote fromEckhart Tolle Always say yes to
the present moment.
What could be more futile, moreinsane than to create inner
resistance to what already is?
What could be more insane thanto oppose life itself, which is
now and always?
(39:29):
Now, Surrender to what is.
Say yes to life and see howlife suddenly starts working for
you rather than against you.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
Beautiful.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Thank you for having me and thank you for doing this
podcast and sharing your journeywith everybody.
I think it's such a gift thatyou're offering up.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
I hope you enjoyed that conversation all about yoga
with the wonderful Lita Huta.
If you're interested in ourin-person workshops again,
please check out the events pageon my website, kellybahaneycom.
And coming later this summer,there will be online webinar
versions of the same topics.
So if you're interested in that, please check that out too.
(40:15):
You can always find me onsocial media, on Instagram at
kellybhaney or the Facebook pagekellybhaneywellness.
If you received value from thisepisode today, I'd be so
grateful if you'd take a momentto subscribe to the podcast,
download the episodes, rate andreview and, of course, please
(40:36):
share it with anyone who youthink may find value in it as
well.
As always, I am honored to walkalongside of you as we heal and
stay healed together.
Welcome to the Heal and Stay Healed podcast, where
we talk about healing and, moreimportantly, staying healed from
chronic disease and otherailments and issues.
We'll cover all the crazythings about health and life the
good, the bad, the ugly and thehilarious.
My name is Kelly and I'm asurvivor and overcomer of severe
(00:31):
autoimmune disease, and I can'twait to share with you what
I've learned so that you canheal and stay healed too.
Thanks for listening and enjoythe show.
Hello there and welcome back.
(00:53):
I am so glad you're here forthis episode all about what has
been and what continues to beone of my favorite healing tools
, that is, the practice of yoga.
Our guest today is yogainstructor Lita Huta.
Lita is such a gentle andcalming presence and in this
episode she has a whole lot toteach us about yoga and the
(01:14):
incredible role that it can playin our lives.
We look at yoga from theperspectives of the physical,
spiritual and philosophical,while discussing its role in
holistic wellness, as it sobeautifully encapsulates the
mind-body-spirit connection thatis so vital for our healing.
We talk about how yoga promotesgrowing older with grace and
(01:37):
strength.
We give out a lot of tips forthose who may be new to yoga and
we announce a workshop seriesthat we are jointly hosting this
summer called TransformativeWellness, which, of course,
includes yoga.
A little bit about Lita beforewe get started.
Lita took her first yogaclasses at the YMCA while living
in a small town, but didn'tbegin her practice in earnest
(01:58):
until she moved back to the DCarea and began classes with
Moses Brown at Willow StreetYoga.
Soon after her child was born,Lita deepened her practice,
taking a nine-month immersion inthe philosophy of yoga as a way
to establish a spiritualpractice as a parent.
Not wanting that experience toend, Lita immediately enrolled
in a nine-month teacher trainingat Willow Street Yoga,
(02:20):
completing her 200-hour yogacertification in 2010.
She has taught yoga now formore than 10 years in a variety
of settings.
Lita teaches an alignment-basedyoga practice that brings a
lightness to the poses and afocus on the breath.
There's so much good stuff inthis episode, so let's get going
.
Here we are with Lita Huta.
Welcome, Lita to the show.
(02:43):
Thanks for joining us today.
Thank you.
Thank you for having show.
Thanks for joining us today.
Thank you, Thank you for havingme.
Can you tell us a little bitabout yourself?
Where in the world are you andhow do you spend your days?
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Sure, I live in Maryland, in Silver Spring, in
the Anacostia watershed, and Ispend my days.
I've been working for a longtime in the nonprofit world on
conservation.
I've worked to save wildlifeand now I'm working more at a
sort of watershed levelprotecting clean water.
(03:15):
And then I have a family thattakes my time and a recently
rescued Siberian husky, sospending time with them.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Awesome, all right, and we're going to tackle the
elephant in the room.
Is that?
I actually know you pretty well?
We're just going to put thatout there.
We've known each other for huhWow, I didn't have to do math
real quick 12, 13 years,something like that.
Lita is my beloved yogainstructor Every Monday night
(03:48):
the best class ever Lita hasbeen the instructor was the
instructor for many years, tooka little break, came back.
One of the best days of my lifewas the day that you reached
out to me and said I'm ready tocome back now.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
I was very excited to come back.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So you also do a little bit of yoga instructing.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, I get to practice yoga and teach yoga and
it's such a great part of mylife.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well before we get talking on our topic today,
which no surprise is going to beabout yoga and its impact for
our healing and staying healed,I wanted to ask you just a
get-to-know-you question so thateveryone can become a little
more familiar with you.
You mentioned your work withwildlife.
You mentioned your little I'veheard stories so I can say your
(04:39):
naughty Siberian husky.
I know you have a very strongconnection to animals.
Is there one animal inparticular that you feel like
you can relate to the most, andwhy?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, I mean there are so many animals that I'm
particularly connected to thatI've spent time with as a kid.
You know I used to love frogs.
I still do.
I spent a lot of time catchingpoor frogs probably the same
frog over and over circlinggrandparents' ponds that they
had at their house.
But now I live in this townhousecommunity and there's always
(05:17):
deer that are semi-tame walkingthrough and they're just usually
walking and eating thevegetation.
But there's just been like anumber of experiences that I've
had where something washappening, something big was
happening or challenging ordifficult, and those few times
I've looked in the backyard andhad like a deer just bedded down
(05:39):
which is not something thatthey usually do in my yard and
like, particularly when, rightwhen I first moved in, there was
a lot of doubt and I don't knowuncertainty about where I was
living and I just woke up in themorning and there was this big
buck there with his huge antlersand yeah, and I just feel like
they show up, you know, when Ikind of need reassurance in some
(06:01):
fashion.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
That's really cool.
They're very mysterious andmajestic creatures.
I would say All right, well,let's dig into why you're here,
and that is to talk about yogaand in previous podcast episodes
I have mentioned yoga manytimes of just how I took my
first class and just fell inlove with it.
(06:25):
It is truly a mind, body andspirit experience and it has
been a spectacular tool in myhealing toolbox and I give it a
lot of credit in helping me tostay healed for so many years
and, by default, I give you alot of credit for helping me to
stay healed for so many years.
Can you just start by?
(06:46):
Let's just talk about yoga.
What is it?
What is it not?
Give us the overview and also,how did you find yourself
getting involved in yoga andwanting to become an instructor?
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Sure, well, yoga the word itself is a Sanskrit word,
it comes from the base of it ishuge, like union, is really what
it means.
And so it's a very ancientpractice, though something that
has been, I would say, morerefined in the last decade
century.
Traditionally, it's seen oftenas like an eight-limbed practice
(07:24):
, so there are things likemeditation and pranayama and
breathing, and what we think ofoften in the US is yoga is one
of those limbs and that's thephysical practice, what we would
, you know the intention is toreach a peaceful mind really,
(07:49):
and then sort of the classicaltradition, and so it's.
This physical practice is areally important part of that
and it's sort of feeling, thewaves of the mind.
It's a really important andinteresting part of the healing
that it's very connected to mindand spirit.
So that's, I think, what setsit apart from other physical
(08:10):
practices.
And when you say what it's not,ideally, it's not just like
you're not just doing somephysical exercise.
I started practicing I wouldhave to do math now a long time
ago, probably more than 20 yearsago, maybe 30 years ago, and I
(08:30):
was interested in it.
It seemed healing and I did itfor a long time and then, as I,
when I got pregnant, I had mydaughter pregnant.
I had my daughter.
I got more.
I delved much more deeply intoit because I was thinking more
consciously about what am Iteaching her?
How am I going to raise her?
(08:51):
What beliefs do I want to helpraise her in?
And I would say yoga is not areligion.
But often, like practitionersuse the word technology I might
use like more philosophy, um, itprovided some grounding.
And like what do I want to passon to my child?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
yeah, yeah, interesting.
You say no, it's not a religion, but it certainly feels very
spiritual.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Yeah and then I think you know it doesn't matter what
religion you are, you you canpractice.
You certainly can practice yoga, and it shouldn't contradict
people's beliefs in any way.
It's very supportive, of course.
It has fundamental core beliefsand particularly that word
union and how we are allconnected is really very
(09:41):
essential is really veryessential.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I remember my very first yoga class, which was a
little bit before you joined us,but I was just coming out of my
massive year-long flare.
I was a skinny little thingshowing up to my first yoga
class.
You know pretty much no muscle.
I'd just been through a lot andgoing through that class and
lying there in Shavasana at theend and just kind of reflecting,
I realized that that was thefirst time I'd really had a
(10:12):
positive experience with my ownbody for over a year at that
point and it was the first timethat I felt really positively
connected to my body and that isa feeling that has never left
since every class.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Well, that's so interesting to hear you say that
, because I think for many of uswe're trying to be grateful for
what we have and not takethings for granted, and often we
have to have, you know, thatjeopardized or taken away in
some fashion to reallyappreciate what you have and
that relationship to your body.
I appreciate hearing you saythat you're you know you had
(10:53):
that experience of connection, Iwould say, and and I think
shavasana is a reallyinteresting and unique part,
right like what other exercisedo you do, where then you just
kind of lie down and you see howyou feel.
You know it's like an inventoryof your body and you just let
your mind kind of let go.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
For folks who've never done yoga it's hard, like
you're saying, it's really hardto understand the mind-body
connection and just themindfulness that goes into yoga.
Where I know yoga has made mestronger, yoga has made me more
flexible, yoga has made me morelimber, but the more tangible
aspect of healing that I'vereceived from yoga is that
(11:38):
connection.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I always find it interesting the, the yogis, the
masters, you know they'vewritten a lot of things down,
like the Yoga Sutra, thePatanjali Road, and you know
these beliefs and some of themare not necessarily, were not
necessarily very common, I wouldsay, in the US.
And you know the western part ofthe world in the US and you
(12:06):
know the Western part of theworld and it's always really fun
to me to see science here inthe US sort of catching up to
what the yogis have alwaysthought and believed.
You know, and there's lots ofresearch around how beneficial
yoga is, but also research thatshows you, oh well, the things
that yoga was saying wasaccurate, even if the research
is not about yoga.
(12:27):
And there's lots of researcharound, like there's a
researcher in Harvard doinginteresting things showing sort
of the mind-body connection andhow that impacts your health and
how you age, or you can say,age with grace, and so you read
that and it's like you know.
I just feel like yoga getsreaffirmed over and over again
(12:49):
often in the science and thatconnection to mind and heart.
It's something that we'restarting to show.
Many of us like to seescientific proof, like not
everybody, but there's manypeople who don't want to believe
that it's real unless there's ascientist who's shown it.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
so yeah, okay, we are talking about the non-physical
benefits of yoga, but I want totake this opportunity to bust
the myth such as yoga is easy.
Anybody can do that.
Like it's just you're going inthere and you know you're're
meditating and, yeah, you'relying down.
Like what is that?
It is not easy.
(13:33):
Physically.
Yoga is a challenge and that'spart of the beauty of it is that
you don't have to go in the gymand lift 50 pound weights or do
anything like that.
You're using your own body toget stronger and it's not easy.
What kind of person would yousay is ideal for looking to yoga
to gain physical strength?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
I am of the belief that anybody benefits from yoga.
I feel like any healthy personcan build strength in yoga.
I think that, like 100 hundredpercent includes men.
You know you do headstand orhandstand, you hold arm balance
poses.
You're going to like even downdog, like very physically fit
(14:16):
people who aren't practicingthat.
You hold down dog for as longas we hold it in class.
You start sweating and shakingand you feel that For women we
often don't have as much upperbody strength.
I find a really pleasant way ofbuilding up upper body strength
for women and stamina and upperbody strength, like holding the
(14:37):
pose.
And, of course, if you arerebounding from illness I've had
, I've had a student who's likejust coming back, like in
remission from cancer.
You know, if you are elderly,like of course, if you have
something special like thatcoming back from illness or
you're you're elderly, you candefinitely build strength in a
(15:01):
safe way.
As with every exercise, youhave to be careful.
You have to be careful incertain poses, you have to
really listen to your body, etcetera.
But it's particularly nice inthose situations.
But again, anyone can benefitfrom yoga.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
All right, I think now is a good time to announce
that you and I are soon tobecome more than teacher-student
.
We are teaming up to create aworkshop series together, called
the Transformative WellnessWorkshop Series, which will be
focused on the topics ofunlocking lasting health through
(15:38):
nourishing nutrition,empowering lifestyle upgrades
and soul-serving simplicity Alltopics near and dear to my heart
and regularly discussed on thispodcast and these workshops
will be coupled with yourleading of gentle restorative
yoga practices that pair quitewell with the discussion topics.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Yeah, I'm really excited about that.
I think it's really importantin our modern, frantic lives to
create space for reflection onhow you're living, how can I
support myself, how can I takecare of myself.
So I'm excited to be able togive people that space and
opportunity to connect with uson this issue.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yes, absolutely.
I know we're both reallyexcited for this opportunity to
engage with attendees in whatwill hopefully be a
life-changing experience.
The first workshop UnlockingLasting Health Through
Nourishing Nutrition is takingplace on June 15th at Sweet Bay
Yoga in Bethesda, maryland, justoutside of Washington DC, and
(16:47):
then the following workshopswill take place at Sweet Bay in
July and August.
So if you are in the DC area orwill happen to be visiting
during that time this summer, wewould love to have you join.
Go to my website my new andimproved website, by the way to
have you join.
Go to my website my new andimproved website, by the way
kellybhaneycom, and you can goto the speaking and events page
(17:11):
there to find signup information.
Of course, send any questionsmy way at info at kellybhaneycom
.
All right, let's talk aboutaging, and this is a topic that
I'm noticing myself and in mypeer group.
This is a conversation thatwe're starting to have, and you
are a little ahead of me inyears, so I know that this is
(17:32):
probably a conversation thatyou've been having for a while
now.
So let's talk about how yogacan really benefit us as we look
to age gracefully, and Ibelieve and I know you believe
that, in order to age gracefully, we really need to embrace
aging.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Absolutely, yes, absolutely.
It's just so supportive forthat mindset and for just
getting our bodies and our mindsand our spirit into that place.
So one of the probably theperson who introduced yoga to
(18:14):
the West named BKS Iyengar.
He's passed away, but heintroduced Iyengar yoga and
there's there's many styles ofyoga in the U S Um, but that
that was a very important oneand it's a very important one,
and he certainly is a model forlike what you can continue to do
(18:34):
if you practice yoga.
And you know, of course, he wasvery strong and very flexible
and can do all sorts of posesand continued that into his old
age.
But even as he was older, he,you know, he did adapt and chose
his poses mindfully.
One of the things I think isreally cool is like how you
(18:55):
think of yourself.
How do you think about yourselfas you age.
There's someone that practiceswith me and she is older I'd say
you know, 70s and she caneasily do hanuman, which is like
a split um.
You know she does likeincredible poses, right, and so
(19:18):
there's two things that aregoing on there.
One is that she's just beenpracticing, so she's limber and
she's, you know, she's just beengoing.
For decades she's been doingthis practice.
So that's the physical part,but the mental part is, you know
, because she's been doing itshe feels like I can do this and
(19:38):
so, like the mind has comealong with her.
I was mentioning there wasthere's a researcher in harvard
and she she does all sorts oflike interesting studies and she
did this one study where shetook a group of men sort of back
in time and like so she tookthem to location and the whole
the house, the clothes, the, themusic, television, there were
(20:02):
no mirrors.
It was all like back in timeand they had to act like they
were back 30 years or something,I don't know how many years,
but like, let's say, a couple ofdecades, and she tested them on
a number of things related toage, before and after, like
dexterity and all these things,and they were much more useful
at the end of that experiment.
(20:22):
I think the most shocking thingof all of those was that their
vision improved.
Wow.
And so just so she's justshowing these sort of mind body
connections in the kind ofresearch that she's doing.
She did this other study whereshe gave people I think they
were in nursing homes studywhere she gave people I think
(20:45):
they were in nursing homesplants, and she divided them
into two groups and said onegroup was like you have to take
care of these plants, you're incharge and you're also in charge
of your schedule.
And then the other group shesaid the staff is going to take
care of these plants for you andthey're going to manage your
schedule.
And 18 months later, the plantcaretakers twice as many were
alive as the other group.
(21:07):
You know and she reallyattributes that to you know how
the mind was engaged and so,yeah, so the the importance of
yoga and aging, I think, is socritical because of that mind
component can't beunderestimated.
But also, of course, like wejust talked about, we are
building muscle mass, which youknow what my understanding is?
(21:27):
That it feeds the bones, thatit's really important.
You know you're keeping yourstamina going, you're keeping
your strength going, you'repracticing balance, which is
just not something that wepractice enough, and so, of
course, that can help you inavoiding injury, avoiding falls.
Probably many of us knowsomebody who's like, broken a
hip and maybe it was never thesame again.
(21:49):
That was like the beginning ofa decline for them, do you know?
Um, and so having that havingthat sort of balance.
My grandmother, she didn'tpractice yoga but she she
gardened and she essentiallygardened in the pose Uttanasana,
just a standing forward bend.
She was doing a standingforward bend, probably at least
(22:11):
an hour to two hours a day,probably like at least three
times a week in in the warmermonths, in the warmer months,
and we were always, you know, wewere always trying to
accommodate her and be likehere's this little bench, here's
this like little knee pad thingthat you can, you can use when
you garden.
And she was always like thankyou, that's so nice.
And she set it aside and neverused it.
(22:32):
And later I was like, oh, she'sjust she's doing it with
Sanasana and like, look at howshe moves.
She moves like a person who ismaybe a decade younger or like
15 years younger.
If you didn't see her littlegray hair, you know what I mean.
From behind, you just saw her.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
If you saw her walking, you would have thought
she was a younger person that'sa good example of of the old
phrase if you don't use it, youlose it absolutely and it's it's
, you know, yoga.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Of course, as we age, we get like hunched over or
people can and often do.
I think there's even a word forthat sort of like hump that you
get in the back and because ofhow we are, modern lives right,
we're like circled around ourcomputer, we're driving our car.
It's all very sort of forwardrounding that we do.
(23:23):
And in yoga you're trying tothink about the back body and
the front body, east and west,and lengthening through the body
.
You know you're often beinginstructed to lengthen your
torso from your hips throughyour armpits.
There's different instructions,different cues that yoga
(23:43):
teachers give but that likeconstant length and lengthen,
keeping the front body open andthat keeps you tall.
I mean, I think you know I talkabout like I have a family
member who was taller than meand younger than me and now, now
I'm taller, I don't even knowhow that's possible, but I
(24:07):
credit the yoga for really justkeeping.
It's both the physical, butalso like bringing your
attention back to like what areyou doing with your body, how
are you using it?
You?
Speaker 2 (24:18):
know.
Yeah, I have to say, eventhough I only see you on Monday
nights, you're kind of with meall week long, because I can't
even tell you how many timesduring the course of a week I
hear your voice saying roll yourshoulders onto your back and I
stand up straighter and I kindof inadvertently do a little
mountain pose.
And you're right, it makes adifference Even in just the way
(24:41):
that you present yourself, theway that you feel about yourself
, the practices that you learnduring yoga class you take with
you and I feel like you presentyourself with more confidence.
We're not sitting for hours.
(25:04):
I work really hard on that too,to remember just the practice
of movement, and there can bedays when I very easily could be
sitting here at the desk foreight hours.
I'm sure you feel the same way.
So it's like okay, well, timeto get up, time to take a break,
let's move, yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
The body is.
The body is meant to move right, and we talked about that at
the beginning.
Just like don't get stuckbehind your chair for eight
hours or more a day, and that'sjust.
We take that for granted thatwe'll be able to get up and move
.
You know at any point that wewant to and while you can,
(25:37):
please do that.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
That's great, great advice Do it while you can so
that you still can.
Yes, that's a little part.
Some other things that you'vementioned.
I take mental notes whenever wetalk about embracing aging in
class.
You've mentioned things likepreventing osteoporosis.
We've talked about the bonehealth and the bone
strengthening.
Also, your ligaments.
Yoga is helping with ligaments,which is really important
(26:00):
because that can cause someserious injury ligament injury
or ligament tears.
And recently, just last week,you mentioned one I hadn't
really thought about is varicoseveins and the prevention of
varicose veins.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Yeah, I mean yoga is seen as beneficial for all of
your systems, right, and thereare a number of poses that are
considered inversions even downdog is considered an inversion
and the ones that might come topeople's minds more like hand
stand or half handstand andheadstand.
But you know, we're justreversing that flow of blood.
(26:35):
For me that was definitelysomething I hadn't really
thought about.
You know, you just like takeyoga and you sort of kind of
feel good and you keep going andyou don't think about
necessarily like oh, are therethings that this is healing?
But I certainly my awesomegrandmother that I mentioned.
She had varicose veins and itcan be, as some of your
(26:56):
listeners may know.
You know it can be superficial,you can just see it on the legs
, but it can also cause a lot oflike fatigue and soreness, I
guess I would say in the legs.
Um, so that's what I really had.
I had soreness and one day,after you know, a couple years
of practicing, I was like, oh,that really just went away.
I don't feel that anymore.
So inversions are really nicefor that and these like
(27:20):
circulatory issues that youmight have are just improved by
yoga.
And you know, again, you don'tneed the science to tell you
that you can just go andpractice yoga, but science is
also showing it.
You know, there there arestudies on cellular aging, on
mobility, on balance, on mentalhealth and cognitive functioning
(27:43):
, preventing cognitive decline.
I wish that for everyone youknow, to try it out and see the
ways in which it may besupporting you that you might
not have even considered that itcould.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Yeah, for anyone who has never tried yoga, what
advice do you have for a firsttimer?
Because, like everything elsethat's new, it can be a little
intimidating if you've nevergone before and you're going to
a yoga class full of yogis thathave been doing this for a while
.
What advice would you give tosomeone who really wants to try
(28:15):
it but is feeling a littleintimidated?
Speaker 1 (28:18):
It's one of the things that you learn in yoga
class too, right right, is payattention to just what's
happening on your mat.
Of course, if you're not sureabout a cue, like you know, look
up to see what other people aredoing, but really try to stay
just focused on your own mat andknow that everybody else in
class is just trying to do it.
(28:38):
Also, you know they're notwatching you.
They are trying to figure outthe pose themselves and that's a
practice.
I think it's nice to positionyourself in a yoga class when
you're brand new, like towardsthe back, towards the middle, so
that you have people around youwho are, who know the poses.
(29:00):
And if you're getting you know,it depends on who your teacher
is.
If they don't immediatelynotice that you might be a
little lost.
You can look and see.
So I like that position forbeginners, like middle backs and
surrounded by people who know,and then staying focused on your
mat, what is happening in thatspace.
Know that others are not payingattention to you hopefully the
(29:20):
teacher is, but others are notand attention to you Hopefully
the teacher is, but others arenot and then it will come with
practice.
Yoga is so much about thejourney and not about, like,
what happened that one day.
It is a long-term journey andone of the things that you will
(29:40):
hopefully gain is you will beginto see sort of the witness of
yourself.
You know, you'll begin to seethat part of yourself that is
like the running mind of like,oh, I'm not sure I'm doing this
pose right.
I wish I was better at that.
Oh, look at her over there onthat mat.
She looks so perfect in thatpose and I'll never be able to
be as good as that.
Do you know what I mean?
So eventually, hopefully, if youpractice yoga, you start to
(30:04):
notice like the chatter that'sgoing on in your mind and you're
like oh, my mind is chatteringand just bringing that like
notice and attention, it maystart to just naturally fade
away.
You know you'll, you will seethat it's not really serving you
.
You've noticed it and it willfade away.
See that it's not reallyserving you.
(30:24):
You've noticed it and it willfade away.
I think definitely when youfirst start the practice, there
can be like that sense of.
I mean it's like when you doany exercise anywhere.
You know you like join a danceclass or whatever, and you're
like I'm new to this, but thedifference is that in yoga
you're like encouraged to like,notice what you're thinking,
notice the negative chatter, andthen it can just more naturally
(30:45):
ease away and hopefully youbring that off the mat later to
your life in general.
That's the goal.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Yeah, and I know a lot of people often get
intimidated if they're you know,maybe quote unquote not in
shape or they have an injury orsome sort of issue.
You've made it a point,especially in our class, to say
there are modifications, youdon't have to come in an athlete
to be able to have a successfulyoga class.
(31:14):
So for that person who'sfeeling uncomfortable because
maybe they just haven't done anyphysical exercise in a long,
long time, what would you say tothem?
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Yeah, I'm happy that you raised that, because I think
also people will say I'm notflexible, so I do yoga kind of
like the reverse right, it'slike the least flexible that
maybe you might want to join.
I would look for a beginnerclass, a gentle class, a yoga
(31:49):
101 to start with.
I would consider finding analignment-based studio and a
Yengar studio is oftenalignment-based so that you
really first learn how to lineyourself up and it's slower so
(32:09):
you have more time.
There's flow.
Classes are very, very popular,so there's lots of flow classes
.
That's faster and so that canbe a little bit more
intimidating and also it's justnice to to learn the proper
alignment before you do those.
So so that's what I would lookfor.
I would I look for likeintroductory classes, one-on-one
(32:30):
classes, yangar yoga classes.
The studio where I teach SweetBay yoga is they're doing a
series of and they'll do thismultiple times of like
one-on-one you know.
So if you haven't stepped in tothe class ever, is really
geared to like full-on beginners.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Oh, that's great.
Another tip I've given topeople before is try to get
there a few minutes early andtalk to the other students.
Talk to the teacher in advance,if you can.
Like everywhere else in lifewhen you enter a new scene, it
just makes it a little morecomfortable, a more comfortable
experience if you have somebreathing room, if you're able
to connect with the others alittle bit beforehand, and I
(33:11):
always try to be that classregular who is there early and
can help make the new peoplefeel welcome.
So hopefully wherever you go,there will be someone who's
doing that.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Yes, that is a good point too.
It's a little bit like findingthe right therapist, like
finding the right studio.
If you, you know, if you havean experience and you feel like
that's not for me, you know, itmight not be that it's not for
you.
It just may be that instructoris not a fit for you, or that
studio is not a fit for you,yeah, so, or maybe even that
(33:43):
style.
So, if you're willing and alittle bit adventurous, try
again, try for another place andsee, that's great.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
Yeah, and yoga is therapy, so that was a good
example.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Yeah, any, other suggestions for folks who are
new to yoga.
Yeah, I think, like with otherexercises, you want to be
conscious of when you're eatingand how much you're eating.
Before yoga class, um, youprobably don't want to eat right
before.
You probably want to giveyourself maybe an hour, an hour
and a half, um, and probably notlike a huge, huge meal.
(34:21):
Um, because you are you, youmay be going upside down, you
know, you may be doing twistswhich are really beneficial for
the body, but not great on afull stomach, yeah.
So sometimes people strugglewith, like, the time of the yoga
class and when am I going toeat?
And so, just like figuring thatout, allowing yourself to have
(34:41):
something smaller earlier youknow what I mean and then have
something like we have our yogaclass in the evening, our
classes at seven, and so somepeople eat a light dinner at
five and some of us, like me, Iwill, I'll have like a snack,
like I'll have some fruitearlier and then I'll have maybe
soup after dinner.
It's kind of a late dinner, soI don't want something super
(35:02):
heavy.
So you know you, you learn toaccommodate your body, but don't
, don't be overstuffed.
That won't make for a pleasantexperience.
No, that would be unpleasant.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
I kind of plan my Mondays around yoga because it's
that important to me.
I actually leave work a littleearly to have my five o'clock
dinner on Mondays.
I joke with my mom because mymom and dad often go to dinner
really early.
That's me on Monday.
I'm not a big fan of eatinglater in the evening.
(35:35):
It just doesn't work well forme.
So I'm like everybody get outof my way.
I got to get home and havedinner.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Yeah, it is nice to eat earlier rather than later,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Probably one final thing that in just thinking of
additional tips, is that worksreally great for us to do it
Monday evening.
Some people who are moremorning people a lot of studios
have like 6 am classes.
Right, you can fit it in beforework.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Yes, exactly, there are definitely studios that have
like 6 am classes.
There's studios that havelunchtime classes, you know.
So you can work it into yourschedule.
And I guess I should say, youknow you would ask about like
first time or people withdifferent issues happening and,
depending on the system, someare really prop heavy, um, and
(36:23):
so there's different.
There's just different types,right.
So there's there's bikram andother hot yoga.
So if you are somebody who justlike wants to sweat it out, um,
and you just really like wantto lose weight, you know that's
a system that people use.
Um, ashtanga yoga is a kind thatis is it's quite physical.
(36:45):
So if you're looking for likethe most physically challenging,
maybe, that's, maybe that wouldbe a good one.
You know, if you want somethinglike a little bit of get your
heart rate up a little bit, itmight be more of a flow yoga.
And if you're first startingout or you have any health
issues or you like alignmentbased, you know Iyengar is, you
(37:07):
know, as I said, it's probablylike a foundational one that
started here in the US and thatuses a fair amount of props, and
so it's also really good ifyou're, if you're older, if
you're.
If you've had injuries, youknow you need to accommodate,
like you have a shoulder injuryor whatever.
That style has a lot ofvariations and it gives you a
(37:28):
lot of props to sort of supportyou.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Okay.
So we talked about how yoga isbeneficial for fostering the
mind-body connection, forspiritual healing, for aging
gracefully and embracing aging.
We talked about how it's just areally good physical workout.
I think we did a pretty goodjob today, convincing folks that
(37:52):
yoga is a really, reallyincredible tool, not just for
healing, not just for stayinghealed, but just for anyone who
wants to look at taking aholistic approach to their
health and to their wellness.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
Yeah, and I think if you're seeing a doctor there's
so many, I mean, I've hadmultiple doctors say, oh well,
yeah, that's what you're dealingwith.
I was going to suggest yoga aspart of your you know what I
mean as part of your healing.
So if you don't believe us, askyour doctor.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
For sure.
And again, just speaking to myfolks out there who are
currently battling withautoimmune or other chronic
disease, please just give it atry.
Yoga can be very gentle, youdon't have to dive right in,
it's just.
Again was just such a powerfulway for me to find that
connection that had been lostwith my body, and I want that
(38:48):
for you too.
So please give it a try.
Lita, every Monday night at theend of class, you wrap things
up by reading us a beautiful andmeaningful quote.
I think that's a perfect way toend this podcast episode.
Would you take us out with oneof those quotes?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yes, I would love to.
Let me share a quote fromEckhart Tolle Always say yes to
the present moment.
What could be more futile, moreinsane than to create inner
resistance to what already is?
What could be more insane thanto oppose life itself, which is
now and always?
(39:29):
Now, Surrender to what is.
Say yes to life and see howlife suddenly starts working for
you rather than against you.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
Beautiful.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Thank you for having me and thank you for doing this
podcast and sharing your journeywith everybody.
I think it's such a gift thatyou're offering up.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
I hope you enjoyed that conversation all about yoga
with the wonderful Lita Huta.
If you're interested in ourin-person workshops again,
please check out the events pageon my website, kellybahaneycom.
And coming later this summer,there will be online webinar
versions of the same topics.
So if you're interested in that, please check that out too.
(40:15):
You can always find me onsocial media, on Instagram at
kellybhaney or the Facebook pagekellybhaneywellness.
If you received value from thisepisode today, I'd be so
grateful if you'd take a momentto subscribe to the podcast,
download the episodes, rate andreview and, of course, please
(40:36):
share it with anyone who youthink may find value in it as
well.
As always, I am honored to walkalongside of you as we heal and
stay healed together.
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