Forever young; For now, hot yoga
We are a youth-worshipping culture.
Remember that Dannon TV commercial about a village of yogurt-eating Russian peasants who averaged 110 years old? And Jack LaLanne who lived well into his nineties and looked at least thirty years younger? I remember his TV show and honestly, he was the only man at any age who looked good in a leotard.
Anyone who can wear a leotard well at 90 has something to teach us.
We fear aging, even while we admire longevity. Last year I did yoga in Times Square with a 90 year old yogini whose twirling red skirt revealed Barbie-doll moveable limbs; nothing to fear there!
Because it's not aging we fear; it's a loss of freedom. A stiff and inflexible body seems to portend an inevitable loss of independence.
But being young is as much about a flexible mind.
Feeling young is about feeling all the possibilities. Your body can move you forward if you take the lead with an open heart and a changeable mind.
Sure, hot yoga helps. Now, while you're opening the spaces between your joints, open yourself to new ideas around you at all times. There's never a better time to notice than during a particularly challenging hot yoga pose; breathe, relax and appreciate your age. Stop complaining. The breakthrough comes when you enjoy. The moment you switch from struggle to fun - in hot yoga and in any challenging situation - you'll see your posture straighten, your shoulders drop and your outlook lift.
And your face will look ten years younger.
Maybe you'll even smile as you notice that hey, you look pretty good in your hot yoga gear... for any age.
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
Reader Comments (2)
"Anyone who looks good in a leotard at 90 has something to teach us" - I was laughing soooo hard!!
The video is so awesome. I noticed how her FIRST secret was positive thinking. Her SECOND secret was daily exercise.... :-)
Hot Yoga + Positive Thinking is THE miracle worker for mind, body, soul....
I noticed that too, Melina; the mind paves the way and then the body can perform those hot yoga miracles!
I laughed out loud when she talked about being in a windstorm and holding tight to her hat which was new, as opposed to pulling her skirt down to protect something 100 years old.
I think sense of humor trumps all