Yoga and Aging

A couple of weeks ago, I took a 6-day road trip with my kids. Long hours in the car every day—you know how draining that can be! I packed my yoga mat, fully intending to practice daily. Well, that worked for day one. After that, I couldn’t quite fit it in. I managed a bit of joint-freeing work, but once my schedule slipped, it stayed off track.
Between all the sitting, couch sleeping, and less-than-ideal food choices, I wasn’t surprised to find that when I returned to a Thursday mini-flow, I felt out of shape. I struggled to keep up with my own pace! My body felt mostly fine, but my cardiovascular system and arm strength were noticeably weaker than when I left. It’s fascinating how a mere six days away made such an impact—perhaps a sign of aging.
They say our physical peak happens between 30 and 35, and after that, it’s a gradual decline. According to WebMD, aging introduces two challenges: dynapenia, a loss of strength, and sarcopenia, a loss of muscle tissue. How can we prevent these from affecting our quality of life? The answer is exercise!
At 58, I’m in pretty good shape for my age, but it’s still interesting to notice how my body changes, and seemingly faster than before. I know my husband and I have benefited greatly from consistent yoga. At 74, his doctor always asks if he can still walk up a flight of stairs, and he always answers with a smile, “I do five flights regularly!”
As we age, staying away from physical practice has a greater impact, just like healing and recovery take longer. The good news? Coming back to your practice—whether after days or weeks—is always better than staying away. Sure, it’s easy to get frustrated when you notice a loss of strength or flexibility. But if you focus on what you're gaining during practice instead of what you’ve lost, there’s so much more to celebrate.
Next week, my husband and I are traveling again, and this time, I plan to make sure my travel mat gets plenty of use!