Eve on Bronte Cliffs 1990
Based on the content of this post, the title, Yoga and Aging, will likely be misleading, but it will do well on the SEO front. And I like that part of it. I tried a few other titles: The Last Quarter, Old Age, The Homestretch and quickly and luckily discarded them. But so far, nothing else has come to me.
I’ve been wanting to write some posts about my aging process. Getting old and all that it brings up seems to be a popular topic, maybe because there are so many of us aging. I thought I could offer my take on the subject. My problem is that I’m not sure where to put the stake in the sand. Aging is an inevitable process that started for me a bit over 80 years ago, and I feel fortunate that it is continuing, for now. But when do we declare that we are old.
Yoga and I go back a long ways. We began our relationship, one that I describe as my longest, in 1971. My needs at that time, as a new mum, were vastly different than they are now. Then, I was excited to be learning this new thing that was just for me. I discovered I was good at yoga poses and that was good for my confidence.
I did my first training to be a yoga teacher in 1980. At that time and for some time, I was able to do impressive poses, dropping back from a headstand and then pushing up into a backbend, for instance. Perhaps audaciously as a newish teacher, I opened a yoga school in 1985 and not so long after created the prototype of a yoga teacher training.
Life has a way of serving up lemons, even when you don’t want to make lemonade. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hips at age 47. This dilemma was my first intimation of the emotional, mental and physical effects of aging. I didn’t want my colleagues to know that I had a serious problem. I wondered, if I had to have this surgery, could I still teach yoga? And, how long I could go without needing to have hip replacements.
Facing major surgery was a hurdle but in no way insurmountable. We here in Australia are so fortunate to have a medical system that takes care of us, in large measure, from birth to the grave.
During this pre-op period, I learned various techniques of yoga that supported the body and mind. These are ones that I overlooked in my quest for perfecting the postures, the self-care tools like meditation and breathwork. I went outside of yoga and explored other healing modalities, some of which are in the domain of personal development.
I reframed my negative attitude about having arthritic hips to possibly see what was happening to me as an opportunity to increase my teaching skills set. I knew of not a single other yoga teacher who had osteoarthritis, so talking and writing about it felt like outing myself. This in itself is healthy I now know, as well as being good practice in facing the ‘slings and arrows’ of aging. And even learning to accept the aging process as natural, as an opportunity for learning, instead of a dilemma.
I’m still learning. Last year I did two trainings for an exercise system which address the condition of osteoporosis, which I have. I’ll save talking about exercise and osteoporosis for another post.
There’s so much to say about aging and I look forward to sharing future posts with you. I’d love to hearing of your experiences, too.
Hi Eve
This is my take on aging.
Funny that I use movements too in my attempt to alleviate the signs of aging. But as a scientist I also focus on the biochemistry of what is happening. Or is it because I notice more of the subtil variation in biology?
I was never really good at handstand, bridges and the more demanding poses. And now after replacement surgery I struggle with a simple pose like trikonasana. But I notice that consistency occasionally brings small progress.
So may be we share that we use our knowledge and experience to face and try to alleviate the subtil or increasingly significant signs of aging before they stop us in our tracks.
Does that fall under the category; facing the music? … being honest but making the best of it? … and enjoying all aspects of life?
It seems we have a choice, Christine. Either succumb to the negative aspects of aging or see what there is to learn from this stage of life we are in right now. I think I know what your choice is 😉
Namaste!
This is my take on aging.
Funny that I use movements too in my attempt to alleviate the signs of aging. But as a scientist I also focus on the biochemistry of what is happening. Or is it because I notice more of the subtil variation in biology?
I was never really good at handstand, bridges and the more demanding poses. And now after replacement surgery I struggle with a simple pose like trikonasana. But I notice that consistency occasionally brings small progress.
So may be we share that we use our knowledge and experience to face and try to alleviate the subtil or increasingly significant signs of aging before they stop us in our tracks.
Does that fall under the category; facing the music? … being honest but making the best of it? … and enjoying all aspects of life?
To sum up my experience of an ageing body is the initial and recurrent thought is, “Lordy, what next?! Is this permanent??”
Teaching yoga to seniors, and ageing along with them, my next thought is, “Ahh, this is what students experience.” I’ve found it helpful to share the challenge of my dodgy bits and pieces in class, so vulnerability becomes OK for all of us and the yoga carries on.
Like you Eve, I baulked a bit at naming a course “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” and I opted for “Living Well from Now On”, and emphasized all we can do to maximize our healthspan within our lifespan. I think I learned more myself than I taught! I anticipated the subject might not be welcome, but It was so popular that I had to repeat it the next term.
Like they say, ageing is better than the alternative. Since we know so many now that didn’t have the chance to move into this season of our lives and continue to grow, perhaps we can choose to enjoy playing the best game we can with the cards we have in our hand. Sx
Thank you for your wise words, Sue, and humour. Two qualities that will see us through!
Kind regards, and Namaste!
Great topic Eve!
I think many people fear ageing as an inevitable degeneration of their bodies, function and in some cases minds. However for many years I felt bulletproof and rarely gave ageing a second thought with regard to my yoga practice. I was strong, practicing Astanga although i was prone to injuries no doubt from pushing my body beyond it’s comfortable limits.
It wasn’t until i sustained a torn ACL 20 years ago that I began to understand and appreciate the loss of function that could accompany ageing. I pursued a different path, training in somatic movement by Thomas Hanna and other related modalities that focussed less on poses and more on the internal embodied experience of breath and sensation.
I bought into Tom Hanna’s refutation of the myth of ageing: decline of function and loss of mobility. I began to value ease and grace of movement over achieving difficult poses and let go of inversions and arm balances. I healed injuries through somatic awareness and no longer relied on physios strapping me up every month-the toll of computer work and stress was now something i could better manage with my somatics vs aggravating it with astanga poses.
But ageing is no myth for many people and i wanted to share all the gifts that somatics and ayurveda and modern research into suoer ageing could offer to my older cohort of students. At this time i was teaching chair yoga and mobility yoga classes at seniour citizen clubs. i called my workshops The Ageless Goddess: embracing our natural aging journey with wisdom and grace! they were a big hit despite the long title 😉
So i guess I’ve been invested in using yoga (somatics is definitely yoga in it’s most fundamental sense: union of mind and breath and body) as a means to retain mobility, ease and grace at whatever age one might be. It has served me well and continues to evolve for me as i realise its profound value in regulating the nervous system and how critical that is for all ages.
I’m no longer bullet proof and i have learned to respect my ageing system with rest and restorative practices. I’m embracing the slower pace and delicious space now that i’ve left corporate life. Ageing feels ok so far but i know that’s not everyones experience so i feel very lucky so far, so good. Oh and i clearly remember advice you gave me Eve way back when i was a student with arthritis appearing and you’d had your surgery. I have followed your yoga life with appreciation. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Your tenacity and self-care has often been a beacon for me. 🙏
So lovely to hear of your journey, Katrina. It sounds organic in the way you’ve found just what you needed at the time you’re needs were changing.
Did you learn somatics through working with a therapist, workshops or online training?
I feel like I’m still learning about my body and part of the teaching is what the process of aging offers me along the way. It’s such a privilege to be able to share the learning with others, too.
Namaste!