My Journey to Aging Gracefully

I turned 43 this year.  43 looks different today than it did, say 10 years ago.  At 43 women are now starting families, changing career paths, finding love….question and challenging their world views.  I certainly found myself re-evaluating long held beliefs, thought and behavioral patterns.  Including my approach to my yoga practice.

I’ve written extensively about my conception and pregnancy journey and the role yoga played in it.  In retrospect I feel it’s important to point out that it was only the allopathic medical fraternity (“Western medicine” as many would say) that used the words “geriatric” or “old”.  Alternative health practitioners, including my yoga teachers, never once saw the idea that I was too old to become pregnant as credible. To them, my body’s potential mattered more than my age.  The irony is that many people think that this means according to yoga age doesn’t matter – but it’s quite the opposite.

I believe yogis enjoy longevity and youthfulness because yoga, if practiced correctly, works to support the body’s natural processes, from conception, childbirth to aging.

For the last 3 years, my yoga practice has naturally shifted towards adjusting to my body, instead of my body trying to adjust (contort) to my yoga practice.  Going by my health and vitality levels today, I believe this has served me well.

Adapting My Yoga Routine at 43 to Factor in the Aging Process

After 14 years of teaching yoga, my practice has evolved in ways I never imagined.  Up until my conception journey yoga was about being an ‘advanced practitioner’.  The deepest backbends, daily handstand routines, and effortless hanumanasanas….all these remain a part of my practice today, but I’ve also created space for restorative sessions.  These give my mind and body a break and also make me feel centered.    My experience with the challenging Physique57 workouts was an indication to me that my body is resilient – and for that I have only my yoga practice to thank.  At 43, I feel strong, mobile, and deeply connected to my body, but I also know that aging comes with its own set of challenges. Instead of resisting it, I’m choosing to adapt—intelligently and intentionally.

Supporting My Body’s Changing Needs

At 12 months postpartum, I have only recently started weaving advanced asanas back into my practice.  What I’m prioritising more are strength, mobility, and recovery. While I still love a strong practice, I now focus more on joint stability (balancing asanas like tree pose and Natrajasana), resistance work (lots of chaturangas), and holding restorative poses.  I’m always been mindful of sequencing, and now I’m even more careful about the sequences I build for my classes.  Breathwork is having its moment in my practice.

Muscle Mass & Bone Density

As estrogen declines, we naturally lose muscle and bone density.  This is dangerous and leaves you vulnerable to injuries.  I’ve started incorporating more body-weight workouts, such as barre a few times a week.  I also pay more attention to chaturanga and its variations and poses like utkatasana.  Standing asanas are integral to the Iyengar style, and great for bone and joint health if practiced correctly.

Along with this. I’ve become more conscious of my supplement intake.  I make sure to have a daily multivitamin, along with calcium and iron supplements (which my gynaecologist recommended).  But most importantly, I try to incorporate nutrient-dense foods into my daily diet.

Being Cognizant That Hormonal Changes…

…affect energy, metabolism, and sleep quality.

Perimenopause brings fluctuations in cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone, which affects everything in a woman’s body.  Instead of pushing myself and working out despite fatigue and exhaustion, I now consciously focus on reading or journaling before bed, instead of binge watching Netflix.  In the past alcohol has featured prominently in my plans for relaxation – and over the years this has petered out.  I also make sure to avoid disruptors like sugar, wheat and dairy    Of course this isn’t straightforward – everyone has their own sensitivities and I have developed these dietary choices through years of experience and careful observation.

Extreme Workouts Impact Metabolism – Negatively

I love cardio.  But muscle mass is key for a strong metabolism.  I now combine my runs with yoga and strength-based workouts.  I also try to remain active throughout the day, walking 8,000–10,000 steps a day.  Often I do a second workout in the evening to rev up my metabolism a bit more.

Recovery & Injury Prevention Matter More Than Ever

Earlier I could run, do a long and intense yoga practice, go for barre….and still have energy leftover.  Now, I need to rest.  Recovery has become just as important as movement. I use a foam roller a couple of times a week, and a deep tissue massage once a month.

I also ensure that I always practice the menstruation sequence when I’m menstruating and go easy on my ovulation days.  I used to feel that my menstrual cycle ‘robs’ me of precious time to get ahead in my practice.  Today I respect my body and mind and know that listening to my body makes me stronger in the long run and is important to aging gracefully.

Longevity Depends Upon Your Mindset & Lifestyle

Longevity isn’t about how much you can do physically, it’s more than just flexibility and strength.  Longevity and aging are also about how you withstand stress, have a strong community and feel involved, and mental agility.  I make it a point to be regular with my Vedanta classes, and try to incorporate Vedantic wisdom into how I approach situations.

I say yes to new experiences and people.  Whenever we travel I make it a point of reading books based in the locations we’re traveling to, or by authors from those countries.  This helps me learn a little more about other cultures and countries, something I find deeply fascinating.  This keeps me in awe of the world, and makes for some interesting blogs too.

Aging is inevitable, but how we move, nourish, and care for ourselves makes the process rewarding.