As soon as I grab my yoga mat to head off to the studio, my body, mind and spirit start awakening. I feel more empowered before I even get on the mat. I remember how I intimidated I felt the first time I reentered a yoga studio just after celebrating my 60th birthday. Although I had intermittently practiced yoga since my early 20s, I didn’t feel confident about holding the poses correctly and keeping up with the class, partly because I was older now.

After that reinitiating class, I quickly decided that yoga could be the ideal foundational core of my renewed exercise routine, good for taking me into my elder years and supporting whatever other physical activities I chose to engage in. Deeper-layered mental and spiritual benefits beyond the outward increase in flexibility and muscle strength continue to regularly get me onto the mat now, several years later.

These days, I affirm and give gratitude to the perfect (and imperfect) parts of my body during different yoga poses. I give love to my wrists while in downward dog and to my hips during deep stretches. Sun salutations open my heart. I thank myself for showing up and giving myself this dedicated time focused on nurturing well-being. (For more personal experiences shared by other local yogis, please turn to page 44.)

It’s all part of my age-less mind set. Visionary health pioneer Dr. Christiane Northrup believes, “It’s possible to get older without the deterioration of aging.” In her books and workshops, she inspires others in knowing that it’s never too late to change our beliefs and our health for the better.

One tip she gives that I have found a powerful practice is to notice how I talk about my health. If I find myself speaking about some claim of dis-ease or dis-ability, I try to speak about it in a positive statement, about what I’m capable of doing and how I aim to support myself. Northrup reminds us that there is an ageless life force that flows through us.

This month’s feature article by Deborah Shouse, “Aging with Passion and Purpose: Finding Fulfillment, Creativity and Meaning,” on page 36, reminds us that aging doesn’t mean we can’t make our later years as enjoyable as earlier chapters in our life. Like a book, the ending chapters can be the richest. Several local health practitioners share their tips for retaining youthful vigor on page 40.

With a little courage—and a look at our underlying beliefs about growing older—we can have a life that’s rich in relationships, health, social connections and everything our heart desires, regardless of chronological age. In our spiritual core, we are eternal beings.

I like Dr. Northrup’s number-one prescription: Have too much fun. She reports that the leading cause of health is exalted emotions of joy, pleasure and fun. So go have some fun!

Living lightly,

Sharon Bruckman, Publisher