We all have different reasons for practicing yoga, different paths that led us to find the practice. Many start for physical (even superficial) benefits, only to realize the profound, spiritual insights that are also accessible through asana and meditation. Meanwhile, others have to hit their knees before they become open to these rewards. As Rumi described, “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” In this column, teachers and students alike will contribute deeply-personal accounts of their own yoga journeys, how they found the practice, and why they stay committed to it. Thank you for holding the space and allowing them to share their truths.

There is an expression that says, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” I don’t believe it, and neither should you. In fact, I believe the opposite is true: it’s never too late to learn something new. I use my life, and some of the things I’ve learned in the last nine years since turning 50, as an example.

First of all, I have struggled with my body image all of my life. This has greatly affected my self-image and weight. Even when I have been thinner, I struggled. When I turned 50, I finally got it together and lost 55 pounds that year. It was great and liberating, and I swore I would never regain the weight. However, I have found that it isn’t always a mental or spiritual barrier we hit; sometimes, it’s an actual, physical barrier. As far as our bodies go, changes happen that are beyond our control. For instance, as I’ve pointed out in a previous article, we lose muscle mass starting as early as the age of 40. While we can do some things to slow it down, we can’t really unwind the aging process. The same is true with our hormones and endocrine system. As we age, hormonal changes affect our metabolism and weight. In response, we can eat a natural and clean diet, have regular movement in our day, and get enough sleep, but those steps alone will not stop the aging process. I have recently learned that the aging process is not the same for all bodies. Just as we hit puberty at different ages, when we hit other aging milestones is specific to our individual bodies. (My response to this latest change has been working with a functional medicine doctor. I’m looking forward to seeing the results during the upcoming year.)

Another big change for me while in my 50s was my return to the yoga mat after decades. I started meditating in my mid 20s but stayed off my mat until my mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis (when I was 52), and suddenly, all the things I had been telling myself that I would do someday (like get back to yoga), became urgent and important. I rediscovered a part of myself on my mat and spent many hours exploring in-studio classes, private lessons, and yoga at home. I learned that I have a greater capacity for accepting what life offers and throws at me, that I am much more than who I thought I was at the time (mother, wife, business entrepreneur, etc.), and, best of all, I finally made peace with my mother. I learned to accept what she had given to me as my mother – even though for decades, I had yearned for more. We made peace and eventually embraced each other before her death, four years after her diagnosis. (Here is a link to what I said at her memorial, but I warn you to have some Kleenex handy.)

The third big thing I learned while in my 50s happened when we sold our home in the suburbs and moved to downtown San Jose. Through the influence of Noell Clark, I took her 200-hour yoga teacher training (YTT) program that completely changed my life. This one change has had a domino effect on everything else in my life: my relationship with myself, with others, how I spend my time, and what I am creating for my future. In my life, I have found that there have only been a few choices I have made that have totally rocked my world: choosing the college I attended where I met my now husband, choosing to stay (mostly) at home while dedicating 20 years to raising my kids, and the most recent one when I chose to take my first YTT.

There are many who think as we get older we get more set in our ways. While that may be true for some, I truly believe that it is never too late to learn new things, never too late to grow, and never too late to evolve. While this isn’t my yoga origin story, it is the reason I practice and teach today, even as this year marks the end of my 50s. I can’t wait to see what my 60s have in store for me!