Are You Actually Too Old to Start Something New?

The short answer is: definitely not.

When is the best time to start yoga? As a child. When is the second best time? Today.

I began my yoga practice when I was 23, and I wish I had started younger. Practicing yoga has helped me, both as a practitioner and an instructor, to become the person that I am today. While many other Gen Xers are stressed out and complaining about their newest ache or pain, I feel comfortable in my body.

I have let go of perfectionism, people pleasing, and trying to meet other people’s expectations. My body doesn’t hurt and I can move through my day with confidence and ease. I have incredible balance and mobility, and I feel strong and capable. In addition to yoga, I also walk, hike, and swim, but yoga is my jam.

I find, when starting something new, that we often get stuck in our heads. The biggest thing that holds us back is our own beliefs. If you believe that you are too old, or that you “can’t,” then that will be true.

Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right. ~Henry Ford

The good news is that beliefs are simply stories that we tell ourselves. They may or may not be true. Beliefs can change, and so can you.

3 Myths that are holding you back

1. It’s too late, I’m too old.

While the adage says “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” you are not a dog, and you CAN learn something new. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are. Learning something new, whether it’s yoga, a computer program or app, or knitting, can help keep your brain functioning! “Use it or lose it” applies to not only the body, but the mind as well.

There are so many stories of people deciding to run marathons in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, or writing a best-selling novel at age 50 or older. The only thing holding you back is your mindset. Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Accept that it will be messy and imperfect. Apparently it takes 10,000 hours to master something. You will not be an expert on your first day, and that’s okay. It’s harder to start something new if you put pressure on yourself to know what you are doing.

Every current expert in every field, had a first day. You are allowed to have that too. Whether you choose to practice until mastery or simply enjoy the journey of learning, it’s up to you.

2. I can’t do yoga, I can’t even touch my toes!

Saying that your body is too stiff for yoga is like saying that you are too dirty to take a shower. You get clean in a shower, and you get less stiff practicing yoga. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Again, it is your mindset holding you back, not your body.

The beauty of yoga is it allows you to be in the body that you have. A yoga body is a body that practices yoga. It doesn’t need to look or perform in any particular way. The aging process causes us to lose strength, balance, and mobility, but the more you practice, the more you can maintain and even build.

Any body can practice yoga, even bodies in a chair. There is Chair yoga if you can’t get on and off the floor easily. There are multiple props (blocks, straps, cushions) available to make the floor or your feet closer when you can’t reach. Every pose is possible in every body because there is no one-size-fits-all way to practice. All yoga poses are modifiable so that everyone can practice, no matter your physical strengths or limitations.

3. My balance is terrible. I’ll embarrass myself.

Balance takes practice. Period. How many times do babies fall down when they are learning to walk? It’s a good thing their butts are so padded! If you don’t regularly practice balance in activities like dance, Tai Chi, yoga, or mountain climbing, chances are, your balance skills have waned. Today is the perfect day to start working on that.

Moving up and down stairs, getting in and out of a car, and walking while carrying things all require balance (and strength). You can practice balance anytime. Stand on one foot while watching TV or brushing your teeth. See how slowly you can go up and down stairs by intentionally shifting your weight from one foot to the other. Be sure to use your glutes! When you are intentional with your movements, and activate the muscles that support you, you build strength and improve your balance. That’s a good reason to practice yoga

Whenever I teach Tree pose in my beginner classes, I instruct on how to stand on two feet first. Feeling both feet on the floor with your joints stacked gives the foundation you need to balance on one leg. Once you understand how to balance on two feet, you can take that wisdom with you as you shift onto one. The rest of the pose is just icing on the cake.

Balance is found by falling over a lot first. Balance is also your ability to adapt to small shifts of weight. When you fight the shifts, you fall over. When you allow the shifts, you find your balance. The more you practice, the easier it gets.

I would love to help you start practicing yoga!

Purple Room Yoga is an online yoga studio dedicated to the needs of active adults over 50. The classes help you build strength, balance, and mobility, while learning to be kinder and gentler with your self-talk.

I offer classes and courses to support your yoga journey, even if you’ve never practiced before. This free eBook Top 10 Things to Know Before Attending Your First Yoga Class will help you get past your self-sabotaging beliefs and allow you to confidently step on the mat for the first time. These are 10 things that experienced yoga practitioners know, and now you can too. Click the button below to get your free copy!

I teach Beginner Yoga twice a week online! Each 45 minute class takes you through a slow flow, with detailed instructions on how to practice each pose. I encourage the use of props and modifications, giving multiple options for each pose. If you can make it to the live classes, I have an extensive Video Library with new Beginner Yoga videos uploaded each week. Fit them into your schedule whenever you like. Click the button below to see the full class schedule.