When I say: "Old Person" Yoga

Multiple choice question: What do you think of when I say "Old Person" Yoga?

A. Chair Yoga - that's "Old Person" Yoga, right?

B. Senior Yoga or Silver Sneakers Yoga – that's it, yes?

C. Yoga for Healthy Aging – clearly for old people.

D. Gentle or Slow Yoga – only old people do gentle or slow classes.

.

How about E. none of the above? (see answer key at the bottom of the post)

In my world there is no such thing as Old Person Yoga, or Senior or Elderly or any other description of a yoga class that isolates a group, especially by age. 

Yoga is Yoga.

In my yoga practice, and what I believe as an instructor, is that "Yoga" as a practice is not defined by age, gender, ability, race or any other adjective attached to it. Ideally, we remember not to make assumptions about a group of yogis that might appear to be older (however you define older) nor about what they can or cannot accomplish – age does not define ability, physical, mental or otherwise.

The labeling of certain types of Yoga for "Old People" is a common ageist statement. I unwittingly make ageist comments all the time! Have you verbalized an ageist catchphrase? What was it and how could you adjust it to be non-ageist?

Here's a few I'm guilty of saying:

• Having a senior moment! (maybe simply a forgetful moment)

• You look good for your age! (how about "You're looking good!" period, end of sentence?)

• 60 is the new 40! Happy 29th Birthday – again! (celebrate your age – getting there is a privilege)

• OK, Boomer! (generalizing attitude and ability based on when you were born)

• Can't teach an old dog new tricks! (we can all be life-long learners)

I've taught students of all ages (from 1 to 100, not kidding!) and no matter the person, age or type of yoga class you can see that they are all delighted to be practicing yoga.

Anyone can do yoga and yoga is for everyone!

Char and Pepe in 2009. AKA my parents.

Photo Caption: Char and Pepe in 2009. AKA my parents. AKA my favorite examples of Healthy Aging. Charlotte brought me to yoga at a young age and we practiced together right up to the very end. Pepe was more skeptical of yoga but he did walk and exercise every day right up to the very end.

Answer Key:

A. Just yoga with a prop. Practicing Chair Yoga is not restricted to any age group.

B. IDs who might be attending the class or have an access pass, not the style of class.

C. Well, we all age everyday and Healthy Aging is something for all us humans to embrace. Healthy Aging is the concept of staying or being in good health for as long as possible in your life.

D. Sometimes moving slower or enjoying a gentler practice is what is right for the day for anyone of any age.

Ageism: prejudice or discrimination against a particular age-group and especially the elderly.

Move!

What do you think of when you read this word?

1. Stretching or exercising in a class or on your own

2. Disco dance party

3. Walking or running to a destination

4. Hurry! Get out of my way!

5. Changing your physical position in a purposeful manner

6. Packing up and moving to a new home

How about all of the above?

#6 is the one top of my mind because we are moving to a new home in March. This is big for us!

We have been in the same house for over 30 years, more than 1/4 of the house's life has been with us as occupants (it was built in 1923) and we are only the third family to have lived in this house. Most of our life together (husband and I) has been here and our far-away family has mostly visited us here. For almost half my life I have lived in this house. Wow.

We feel sad and will miss being here as we have so much love for our yard (banana tree! hammock!) and home, and our neighbors on this street. The upside to leaving our life here behind is that we are only moving 11 blocks to Sellwood. We will still see everyone we know, shop at the same stores and visit the same parks and attend the same yoga classes. And our new home is all one level and no yard. Basement laundry will be a thing of the past!

Let me know if you'd like an invite to the housewarming party and you can visit the home where we will begin our third act of "aging in place".

Condo Sweet Condo!

Thinking about aging...

Winnie-the-Pooh is nearly one hundred years old (if you count his first appearance as "Teddy Bear" in When We Were Very Young published in 1924 by A.A. Milne.) And Winnie-the-Pooh is famous for thinking about his constant pursuit of hunny.

While I've got plenty of hunny in my cupboard (no pursuit required) I do a fair amount of thinking about aging–and more specifically Yoga and Healthy Aging. Dear old Pooh has the good fortune to be an ageless stuffed bear, however for the rest of us Healthy Aging is a worthy topic and a worthy goal. Healthy Aging, defined for the purpose of what I am sharing here, is the amount of time (in your lifetime) that you are in good health as opposed to time spent in ill health. It is likely that most humans will spend some portion of their life in sickness.

Maintaining vitality and wellness as we age is essential, and yoga is a fantastic way to achieve this. My Yoga for Healthy Aging* classes welcomes all ages, bodies, and experience levels. Join in this slower-paced, accessible, and energizing yoga class designed to support a healthy mind and body. Join and connect with others while experiencing the benefits of a mindful yoga practice.

*Wednesdays at 10:30 at Sellwood Yoga. Mondays at 1:30 at Lake Oswego Adult Community Center (Parks & Recreation department).