Yoga — The Fountain of Youth
The gifts of 25 years of practice
I have always been strong. The events of my life left me no alternative. My chosen career as an OR nurse was very physical. I never had to even ponder going to a gym — my workout was my work.
What I needed wasn’t strength training or cardio, what I needed was balance. So at age 40, I began a yoga practice. It was just for 10–15 minutes each morning when I got out of bed. I was always a bit stiff and the postures helped open up my joints and soft tissues. I always felt a bit better after a few minutes of yoga.
Fast forward a couple of decades, I can really see a difference in my body’s aging arc. When I look around at other seniors, I see exactly what the benefits of my practice have been.
I am no longer stiff in the mornings. Unlike so many of my fellow seniors, I don’t suffer aches and pains upon rising. Yes, I have arthritis — in my left hip, my right shoulder, and my cervical spine. Whenever I rotate any piece of me connected to those points — you can hear the crackle across the room. Here’s the thing, a few of my joints may sound bad — but there is no pain. And bonus, I retain a full range of motion in each joint. In spite of the crunchy sounds.
I am one of those nearly 65-year-olds who can not only get down on the floor to play with…
