Yoga with

Eve Grzybowski

I've been teaching yoga since 1980.  A lot of my identity is tied up with being a yoga teacher.  What does that mean?  What should that mean? On this site I explore my personal journey and provide commentary on the state of yoga in the twenty-first century. I invite you to have a look and see what may be here for you.

 
Photo by: Julie Slavin Photography, Old Bar

Eve Grzybowski - Home

Featured videos from my YouTube channel

I've been adding meditations, short instructional video and an ever-growing selection of complete yoga classes.  Click on any of these below videos to view them directly.  Or click on the button below to explore the entire channel.

Access all videos by clicking on any of these buttons. 

Current Post

Good to the Bones

An image with three views of a vertebral column

It's surprising, and I don't even know how it is possible, that at the end of this year I will turn 80 years old.

At this moment, I am in remarkably good health. People always want to say, 'for your age'. But, without bragging, I'm in very good nick.

I keep speaking the words, 'for now', because I know that health and well-being can 'turn on a dime', as the expression goes. I've seen it happen in my family and with my friends. And some of them are not here any longer. I do know how fortunate I am.

Because of experiencing good health and fitness, I see the formation of wrinkles and chin hairs and arthritic joints without too much concern. The greying hair and diminishing muscle mass come with the territory. If you want longevity, you have to accept physical, mental, emotional and spiritual changes. Some good, some not so much so.

However, I was diagnosed a few years ago with a serious condition called osteoporosis. It is variously defined as bone thinning and reduction of bone mass. The risk of having it is that one's bones become weak and are susceptible to fractures. Because osteoporosis doesn't cause any symptoms, people don't know they have the condition until there is a fracture or bone break. (My condition was discovered from imaging done of a bad wrist sprain after a bicycle accident.)

At six-monthly intervals, I get injections of a drug that slows the breakdown and removal of bone cells. I'm not crazy about following this protocol as I try to avoid drugs as much as possible. But I've had sensible advice from a couple of doctors and nurses that I trust, so I've agreed to this regime.

Still, I've wanted to do more for myself. Thus, in January this year, I participated in a course called Buff Bones, a training that includes exercises that are good for my bones. Having completed the basic training, I have now qualified as a Buff Bones instructor. This means I can lead students who want to improve or maintain their bone health through this methodical movement system of body conditioning.

Being of advanced age, I found the training hard. Temporarily putting my 44 years of yoga teaching to the side, I took on learning movements that are Pilates-generated. Probably I am in just a small cohort of people who has hardly ever encountered Pilates, for all the goodness that practitioners of this method report. I have slowly learned the 60+ exercises, as well as modifications and progressions, and I am still learning.

I like working with this BB system. It includes many of the things that I already teach my midlife and older students: spinal movements, abdominal strengthening, working with resistance, balancing in different planes and pelvic stability.

It's not yoga and doesn't purport to be. Buff Bones is something else, and valuable in a specialised niche. I'm loving introducing people to it and enjoy having a whole new challenging language to speak the development of strength and resilience. I expect I will put on some BB classes soon or, even better, a course for you.

I feel chuffed that I have a new repertoire to take into my next decade.

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Good to the Bones

in January this year, I participated in a course called Buff Bones, a training that includes exercises that are good for my bones. Having completed the basic training, I have now qualified as a Buff Bones instructor. This means I can lead students who want to improve or maintain their bone health through this methodical movement system of body conditioning.

read more
Eve Grzybowski - Home

It's been out of print for 15 or more years but now it's back.  It's available as a paperback as well as a range of digital formats for different devices.  The design of this edition is modelled as closely as possible on the original release from 1997.

Electronic versions:

Paperback version:

(Note: Book retailers set their own prices that are all different and constantly change.  It's worth shopping around for the best price.)

Any bookshop, whether online or bricks and mortar, can order copies of Teach Yourself Yoga.  Just ask and quote ISBN: 978-0-6487945-0-9.

Please send me feedback about the book.  I'd love to hear about any errors or problems with eBooks on various devices.  And please review the book wherever you get it.  Reviews will help more people discover the book.

Eve Grzybowski - Home

Classes and Workshops

I'm currently teaching two weekly classes on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales where I live. I also lead workshops here and in other parts of Australia.

Eve Grzybowski - Home

Visit the Vault!

I've been regularly contributing to this blog since 2009.  There are now over 1250 posts about a very wide range of topics. Click here to explore.

Eve Grzybowski - Home

Yoga Resources

Books, videos, teachers, websites, places to buy really hot yoga clothes (kidding), and generally anything I find that I think others might find useful.

Eve Grzybowski - Home

A Bit About Eve

I've been teaching since I was 35. I'm now 76. In that time there have been a few changes. Click here if you want to find out a bit about my life.

Eve Grzybowski - Home

Shop

No, I'm not selling yoga mats or clothing.  I don't even have a t-shirt... yet.  But from time to time I find myself with something that someone may want.  Have a look, I'm never sure what you'll find.