As women over 50, we are constantly evolving, finding new ways to thrive and redefine who we are. Reinvention is an empowering choice that fuels our vitality and wellness. We must embrace new roles and nurture our well-being. The best part is discovering fresh passions that light us up inside. I am thrilled to welcome Lorraine C. Ladish, an inspiring entrepreneur, writer, and authority on all things yoga. With her unique perspective on wellness and reinvention, Lorraine brings a wealth of wisdom that inspires us to continue exploring and embracing life with courage and zest. She is sharing that with us today. Please enjoy this inspiring story by Lorraine! -Honey

At 61, it’s flattering when people comment on my yoga photos on Instagram, but in reality, yoga is not about the poses. They are what draws people’s attention, though, and then I can share the real benefits of yoga – a better understanding of oneself and a better relationship with the world around us.

I’ve been on this path for around 50 years, a journey that has profoundly shaped my body and my spirit and my way of being in the world. 

Yoga is more than physical flexibility or balance; it’s a way of navigating life’s challenges with grace and resilience.

Starting Young: The Roots of My Yoga Practice

My yoga story began at the age of 12 when my dad handed me a now-yellowed copy of Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan. That simple book introduced me to a practice that balanced my mind and body as nothing else had. 

I had already started running, which I continued doing throughout my life, but quickly found it could lead to painful shin splints and other injuries. Yoga provided a path towards strength and flexibility and recovery from running injuries.

Back then, yoga was about rolling out a towel—mats weren’t even on my radar—and finding a way to keep my body moving smoothly. Through my teens, I practiced regularly, establishing a foundation that would serve me well throughout my life.

Yoga, during that time, helped me through the dark days of a severe eating disorder and somewhat alleviated my lifelong struggle with clinical depression and anxiety.

Rediscovering Yoga Over the Decades: Fitness Instructor, Motherhood, and Healing

As I entered my twenties, the aerobics craze swept me away. I became a fitness instructor, trading yoga for high-energy routines, leg warmers, and Reebok hi-tops. 

Alongside aerobics, I explored modern dance, ballroom, salsa, and swimming. But yoga always lingered in the background, resurfacing in my thirties, particularly during my pregnancies. The hip openers and breathwork offered much-needed relief and a sense of calm.

At 41, while raising my young children, I injured my back lifting a heavy couch, resulting in a slipped disk. The pain was intense and crippling and surgery was recommended, but instead, I turned to physical therapy and yoga poses, like backbends and Cobra. 

These practices helped me avoid surgery and provided profound healing, strengthening my trust in yoga’s power to restore and rejuvenate.

Finding My Way Back to Yoga: A New Beginning in Midlife

At 52, yoga returned to me in a new way. My husband and I attended a retreat in the North Carolina mountains, where early morning classes and breathtaking landscapes renewed my love for yoga. 

Despite my usual reluctance to rise early, I eagerly set my alarm each day for that morning class. By the time we returned home, I felt compelled to dive deeper, exploring various forms like Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative.

Coming back to yoga in midlife allowed me to appreciate the profound impact it had on my body and mind. This wasn’t just about poses; yoga became a way of nurturing my entire self.

Becoming a Yoga Instructor in My Fifties: RYT200 and RYT500 Certification

As my practice evolved, I felt called to deepen my commitment, so at 55, I completed my RYT200 certification, followed by RYT500. This means that I completed a total of 500 hours of yoga teacher training, specializing in teaching older adults.

The training not only refined my poses but also helped me understand yoga’s broader philosophy. On the physical side, I enjoyed pushing myself and learning arm balances and at 57, I achieved a free-standing handstand—something I once believed was beyond my reach. 

Then, an unexpected two-year rotator cuff injury taught me patience and humility, reminding me that yoga isn’t always about the body’s capabilities. I’m back on my arms now, but with more care and renewed respect for my body’s capability to heal when given the opportunity.

Yoga Beyond the Mat: A Way of Life

Yoga is a philosophy and approach to life that extends far beyond the mat. For me, yoga has been a practice of how I show up in the world and respond to its challenges.

Yoga for me is, amongst other things:

• Responding to Difficulties with Grace and Humor: Life often brings struggles, whether they’re physical injuries, personal hardships, or everyday frustrations. Choosing to respond with grace and humor rather than despair is yoga in action. I recently had a tree come through my roof during Hurricane Milton in Florida and I chose to have fun with it. I styled the tree branches with different shoes from my boot collection and had posted it online. My reel went viral, bringing a smile to my face and millions of other people.
• Avoiding Unnecessary Conflict: Yoga is about recognizing which battles to fight and which to let go. Refusing to engage in heated arguments over small issues or differences is also a form of yoga, cultivating peace in ourselves and those around us. In an increasingly polarized world, this is a great skill to have.
• Sitting with Uncertainty: Life doesn’t offer guarantees. Whether waiting for test results or navigating unknowns, sitting with that uncertainty without losing balance is yoga—a mindfulness that allows us to face even the most challenging moments. I know this first hand as I’ve spent the last year in and out of doctor’s offices. All is well so far, but even when it isn’t it’s important to be able to function and enjoy the rest of life. 
• Coping with Change and Loss: My best friend and my grandmother died months apart, the year I embarked on my yoga teacher training. Yoga helped me cope with this profound loss and other losses that came after. I was able to give myself the space and time to mourn and grieve without numbing my feelings in unhealthy ways. Becoming an empty nester was a life change that yoga also helped me navigate. I was able to lean into my emotions and come out on the other side with pride for my children, and a renewed sense of self.

Yoga helps me embrace life as it is, not only through flexibility and strength in body but through an adaptable mind and open heart.

Yoga at 61: A Daily Practice and a Lifelong Companion

Now, at 61, yoga is a regular presence that supports every aspect of my life. It’s the remedy for hip pain that began years ago, a balm for the symptoms of menopause, and a grounding force during life’s storms. Recently, it’s been invaluable as I recovered from a foot injury and faced two hurricanes that hit my town. 

Every time I step onto the mat, I’m reminded of the strength within me and the peace that yoga brings, no matter what challenges arise.

While I still enjoy lifting weights, dancing and hiking, to name a few, yoga is the foundation that keeps my mind and body in balance. I still take medication for mental health, but yoga continues to be my anchor when I have flare-ups.

At 61, I show up on the mat with gratitude and intention, knowing that my yoga journey will continue evolving for as long as I am alive. 

 

Lorraine C. Ladish is a communicator and influential leader in women’s empowerment. She is the CEO and co-founder of Viva Fifty!, a dynamic online bilingual community dedicated to celebrating life at 50+, and a digital content creator at @lorrainecladish across all social media platforms. 

Originally from Madrid, Spain, Lorraine now calls the vibrant community of Sarasota, Florida, home. Being Spanish-American, bilingual, and bicultural enables her to connect with a wide range of audiences. Lorraine has written and published several books with traditional trade publishers, based on personal experiences, covering topics such as eating disorders, mental health, parenting, reinvention, and entrepreneurship.

Lorraine’s writing career took an unexpected and bold turn when she moved her skills online in 2009, after losing all print journalism collaborations during the 2008 recession. For the past decade, she has been a prolific content creator and influencer, featured by Oprah Daily, Real Self, and AARP, carving out a space for herself as a leading voice in the midlife influencer realm. Even at 60, Lorraine believes she still has much to achieve and create.

Over the years, Lorraine has made an impact on a range of high-profile publications, including NBCNews, HuffPost, AARP, Babycenter, and Mom.com. She has also collaborated with People en Español, La Palma of The Palm Beach Post, Purple Clover, Latina magazine, and Redbook. In 2017, HarperCollins published her latest book, “Tu Mejor Edad,” (Your Best Age).

Above all, Lorraine is fiercely committed to eradicating ageism and empowering young people, including her own children, to embrace every decade of their lives with positivity and joy and avoid feeling that their best days are behind them.