Am I too old to start yoga?
Author: Jayne Sieverding
Of course the answer is no. But in general older people believe yoga is for younger people and younger people believe yoga is for older people. Many young people think of yoga as a wimpy work out and opt for circuit training or kick boxing. They think that yoga is all about meditation, stretching and Shavasana. Alternately, many older people see pictures of young and athletic yoga students putting their bodies in spectacular contorted poses or doing amazing aerial lifts and think for sure that it is NOT for them. It makes them feel intimidated and really old. But are they too old to do yoga? Repeat, the answer is no, but remember that you need to begin at your personal starting point.
Yoga can work in many forms for people of any age or inclination. The dictionary definition is: “a system of exercises for attaining bodily or mental control and well-being”. The concept of a yoga practice being a “fitness work-out” is something relatively new; mostly developed by western culture sometime in the past 20-30 years along with many new yoga genres. Power yoga, hot yoga, SUP (stand up paddleboard) yoga, aerial yoga all sound cool. Using versions of yoga techniques, experiences and expanded philosophy can help people link yoga into western culture as well as encourage discovery. But those examples are just that. There are many other ways to practice and you need to find yours. Yoga is truly for all.
Yoga in its simplest form is about improving your well-being. Pick the right kind of yoga to practice and have the right frame of mind. Start with what you can handle and you will gain the most benefit. Billie Mae Gollnick is a Texas yogi of great understanding who is now in her 89th year of life. She teaches yoga at her local library and wrote recently on her facebook page: “A man of 86 years, obviously a man of wisdom, participated in yesterday’s library hatha yoga class. How I and others admired him! Willing, eager to learn, and allowing his body to transition into stretches and asanas within a limited range without hesitation. He was accepting of his body and yet intended the best for it at any age.” Her description is inspirational.
For an elderly person and/or with limited capabilities who wants to start practicing yoga (and their doctor agrees), finding a wise and experienced teacher like Billie is a gift. They will be able to help you discover what is right for you. Look for that special teacher at small yoga studios, senior centers, or in Billie’s case at her local library. Big gyms and/or large classes are probably NOT the best way to go for you. Think of yoga as improving your well-being and not as a fitness routine. Start with simply learning how to affect your breath and then go from there. Chair yoga, restorative yoga or yin yoga may all be options. DVDs or YouTube videos may also work here if chosen wisely. Begin simply and the benefits can still be great.
But if you can get up and down off the mat and are able to do some fitness without pain, then please no age related excuses. Start with a humble and introspective heart and don’t compete with your memory of a younger self, the person on the mat next to you or your teacher. You are who you are at this point in time.
And above all be patient. I like to tell my students that it took me five years of practice to be able to do crow pose (bakasana). They watch me in bakasana now and can’t imagine how that is true, but it is. I was not very patient. I had many excuses. I even lacked courage. But one day it just clicked. I’m still not great at it, but I like to practice because it reminds me of my journey and keeps me centered. We all start at the beginning. When you go to your first yoga classes, don’t feel like you have to do everything the class is doing. Sometimes the best way to learn is to watch others. Sit back in child’s pose or just lay down on your mat until you are ready to join the class again. Listen to your body. Be patient.
So what is the best age to start yoga? Many people find that they wish they started yoga earlier in life, but that is always relative to when they did start. So a person who started at 70 wishes they had started at 50 and someone at 50 wishes they had started when they were 40, etc. The answer is probably your age on the day you start. That is the best age for you. Because you need to be mentally prepared for the journey and until you are, then it’s not the right time. This may be especially true of someone who is older when they start as it can be more physically challenging at first, but then one day I look over and see them doing a beautiful utthita trikonasana (Triangle) with a smile on their face as they truly feel the pose. Pure joy!
So get going. Don’t let your age be an excuse. The other day a student came up to me before class and said with a kind smile that she wanted me to know that she was quiet and in the back, but really appreciated my teaching style in that I offered alternatives for her. I could tell that she was there to learn with an open heart and accept what her body was able to do on that day and enjoy her practice. She didn’t feel comfortable up in front of the room or even talking to me during class, but she was comfortable with herself and her own journey. She made my day. Namaste