Too Young to Feel So Old

by Nina

Brandy Wismer, Age 60

The photos of older women doing yoga that I’ve been posting on our YFHA Facebook Page have certainly prompted a lot of discussion. One comment in particular got me thinking. 

I guess I know I'm getting old when I see Bhavani Cooper's age (56) in a "Yoga for Healthy Aging" Facebook page. 76, maybe. 56? YOUNG.

I left a reply to this comment, but after talking with Brad about it, I thought that it might just be a good topic to explore today, especially after I heard from one of our prize-winning photo subjects, Brandy Wismer, about her experience of being “too young to feel so old.”

You see, many people assume that because we’re talking about “aging,” our blog is just for people in their last one or two decades of life. But the truth is, that people in their fifties are already dealing with age-related health problems. So practicing Yoga for Healthy Aging is beneficial for a huge range of people, of many different ages.

For example, though I’m 63 now, I developed arthritis of the hip in my fifties, and I’ve been using my yoga practice since then to help maintain my range of motion and postpone a hip replacement for as long as possible (yes, that is working for now). And as I looked around at my contemporaries—including "kids" I grew up with—I saw not only cases of arthritis developing in people in their 50s,  but also other age-related problems, such as hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. I also noticed that people who did not take good care of themselves—who did not exercise, eat well, and manage their chronic stress—tended to be much more unhealthy overall and just seemed plain “older” than those who did. I guess that’s a no-brainer, but witness it in your contemporaries really brings that message home to you. Brandy Wismer’s story illustrates this perfectly. It also illustrates why yoga for healthy aging is so beneficial to people who might even seem "young" to some of you.

Brandy’s Story

I distinctly remember the first day I went to the grocery store and looked at the motorized carts and realized I either need to shorten my shopping list or take the cart. Neither option was what I wanted. I was really frustrated and also sad because at 52 I was too young to feel so old. 

After two knee surgeries, one foot surgery, and a torn rotator cuff and wrist injury that were scheduled for future surgeries, I found myself 50 pounds overweight, with low energy and no self confidence in my ability to change my life. I took pain medicine several times a day just for my body not to hurt. On top of this I had an extremely stressful, but high paying job as an executive for a psychological practice serving families experiencing family violence, addiction and other mental disorders. Physical fitness and taking care of my body were not top on my priority list. 

Two life-changing things happened almost at the same time. The first was caused by the “20 step challenge.” We lived in a two-story home. Going up the stairs was often difficult, so my husband started referring to my “20 step challenge” anytime I went upstairs. Things became bad enough that we made the decision to sell our two-story home and move to a one-story home in an active adult community. At 52, we were both very young for the community, but I quickly realized the more active and fit members of our community, even in their 80s and 90s, were having a great time and I was missing out.

The second thing that happened was I left my high-stress, high-paid job and started over fresh in a totally different career with a financial services firm at a very low paid, entry-level position. One of the perks was a company fitness center with an opportunity to have a full fitness evaluation and yoga classes right inside the company at lunchtime. 

The fitness evaluation told me what I already knew: I was in bad shape. The yoga class seemed like something I could try that wouldn’t be too hard. I started going, and I remember the instructor Kelly not only made me feel good physically, but her centering messages about self-acceptance and encouragement made me start seeing possibilities for myself. I was starting to feel stronger, more flexible, and balanced, both inside as well as outside. I joined another fitness club and went to more yoga and combined it with a personal trainer. I dropped about 50 pounds and realized I really could make even bigger changes in my life. Last fall I made the leap to enroll in a 200-hour teacher training program. In May this year, I started teaching seniors in my own community. For my own fitness, I combine my own yoga practice with cardio workouts on the bike, do weight training and play pickle ball, and even joined a co-ed softball league, which I never envisioned as a possibility. My husband is also joining me for yoga and he is a true believer in the positive benefits for both of us. 

I have never felt better or stronger or more contented then I feel today. Eight years ago I felt too young to feel so old. Today I feel younger than my 60 years. I know I will have challenges in the future, but I’ve also learned that when you fall down, just laugh as you pick yourself up so you can try again. Everyday is an opportunity for a new beginning. 

Brandy Wismer lives in Denton, Texas, and teaches yoga at Robson Ranch.

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