Starting over at 60*

* Okay 58, but I really who's kidding who!

I never expected to beginning my career at fifty eight.  After getting married, 1982 and working for four years, I had my first daughter.   My son followed 19 months later.  My third after him by eight years.  I always loved staying home with the kids.  I also love my "part time" job as a fitness trainer.  I loved working hard at home and working harder in the gym.  I loved seeing my clients finding their stride and achieving their goals.  

As a child of the 1970's, yoga was for hippies.  I wasn't a crunchy granola type.  I preferred running miles and lifting weights.  Yoga found me!  While in an eating disorder hospital for eight months, yoga was the only option for me.  In fact, for the first three months, I wasn't even allowed to move through the asanas.  While everyone else got to move and experience the yoga flow, I sat on my bolster and watched.  I had deteriorated physically.  Any movement was closely monitored.  So, I closed my eyes and moved in my mind.  I actually

came to love disappearing in to myself.  When I finally was strong enough to join in the practice, sumadhi.   

Returning to "normal" life, after months of hospitalization was hard.  Yoga kept me grounded.  I knew my practice had changed me.  I also knew I needed to work again ~ to teach again. I worked really hard from the years 2000 to 2010.  I had what I thought was the perfect spot for my classes and clients.  It was a beautiful studio.  I had wonderful students.  Through a wonderful teacher, Tom Gillette, I learned the true practice of yoga.  I read the great works and honed my practice.  Graduating from Eyes of the World 200 hour teacher training was as big an accomplishment as finishing the program at The Westwood Lodge.

Life took another turn.  My studio was no longer my studio.  I saw years of work and tons of money just disappear.  I am happy my students stayed in the space.  I miss them.  But, happily, the studio is still an active place with yoga classes.

I limped along for about a year.  For the first time, I was NOT teaching.  I did not step on my mat.

I finally put on my big girl pants and decided it was time to get my life back.  I worked hard to reestablish myself as a quality caring teacher of movement and health.  Mind Body Barre and Core Studios welcomed me back.  I will be forever grateful.

Now I am 58 and starting over~ again!  I am working on my yoga again.  I am thankful for Coral Brown and her 500 hour yoga teacher training.  I am thankful I have my practice again(I do not think I ever really lost it.)  

I am stretching my yoga with the help of Alison Bologna's community at Shri.  I am hoping to bring practice to all those who think they are not skinny enough, flexible enough, smart enough, strong enough or young enough to have a yoga practice.

Will I succeed?  Will I find a studio who wants a teacher starting a journey at my age?  I am not sure.  But just putting myself out to the world feels like a win!