Is Age Just a Number? Turning 50 with Kindness and Clarity.

I’m just a few days away from turning 50 — it’s a fascinating time with a mixed bag of emotions! In some ways, I’m ready to embrace the next decade; in other ways, I can’t believe I’m here already. It’s led me to reflect on the question: Is age just a number?

Yes, in one sense- It’s just time moving on, we move through the decades, marking time with birthdays, witnessing the natural transitions our bodies go through —  shifting hormones, changing energy levels, skin that's a bit softer or saggier. But I think most of us know that age is also much more than a number.

An essential part of us is unchanging, and we can feel younger or older depending on conditions that have nothing to do with our physical or historical age. The way we move, think, feel, and live all shape how we experience ourselves — and our age.

Why Yoga Matters at Every Age.

Everything we do matters, and leaves an imprint on our body and mind. That's the beauty of it; we can always grow/ develop/ change. Age isn't linear - it's dynamic and relational. It’s deeply connected to how we feel, where we are in our lives, and the context we live within.

If we ignore these factors, we can get stuck in old patterns and have expectations that can lead to discontentment and frustration. Understanding and attending to the way our bodies and minds feel — paying attention to how we feel in our body and mind, how we are today, and what is right for us now — is the key to living with ease, balance and joy.

Gratitude and Grounding

I feel incredibly fortunate. I’ve made it to 50. I’m healthy. I have love and support in my life. I have choices and many freedoms. And yet… there are still moments — sometimes quiet, sometimes overwhelming — where I think, How did I get here? How is this possible?

I came across yoga in my 30s and am so grateful for all that it’s given me -  the movement, meditation, and philosophy. I now have practices and tools that ground me, that support me to deepen my connection with myself, others, and the world, and support widening my perspective.

My intention for the next decade is to keep practicing — for myself but also to share it, to help us all stay resourced in this hectic world, whether through classes, one-to-ones, or everyday interactions.

If you’re feeling curious, reflective, or simply looking for a moment of stillness, here are a few practices that continue to support me. I’ve also included a few simple recorded practices in my next newsletter. Sign up here: Kind Heart Yoga Community Sharing

Practices to support acceptance and kindness.

Movement — Coming back to the body and into the present moment through kindly moving the body. Not just to keep the physical body healthy and moving, but to feel. For me, this means somatic, gentle, mindful movement that draws me inward. Whatever works for you, that’s okay. Through conscious, awareness-filled movement, you find yourself alive in your body and mind, just as it is, and not stuck in stories of the past of projections of the future, but right now.

Meditation — To develop a greater perspective, find ways to be still, to feel your breath, and be with its rhythm. Sitting with ‘what is’, without needing to fix or change it, can have a profound effect on our relationship to life. It's hard, but it can be a real game changer.

Acceptance — Everything is changing, all the time. Aging is just one part of that. I may have less energy for everything I want to do, but I’m more aware of and grateful for the things I can do. Accepting these shifts doesn’t mean giving up; it means moving with, rather than against, the current of life.

Appreciation — Everything: the food we eat, the water we drink, family, friends, birdsong, a moment of quiet — all of it is a gift when we pay attention. This doesn’t mean denying the hard stuff but when you shift your attention to what you do have, bringing your mind to focus on the things you are grateful for, after a while, it becomes a habit, and it’s as easy to learn appreciation as it is to learn a negative frame of mind.

Looking Ahead

Here’s to 50 — to living, loving, and aging well.

We can all do this. The one inborn power we all have is our ability to change.

Let's do it together - join the Kind Heart Yoga Community