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LET IT GO! Getting older is something we all think about, and maybe even get anxious about, but age does not have to limit us. In Episode 16 of Champions of Change, we look at how the inspiration between mother and daughter has transformed the life of 78-year-old Vera Farrants.

Vera is the mother of Movement for Modern Life founder, Kat, and though she only recently came to yoga at the age of 73, she doesn’t see that as a bad thing. Instead, the older you are, the more you can benefit. In fact, her practice has not only helped her physically, but transformed her attitude to and outlook on life, and taught her the importance of letting go.

There are certain difficulties which come with age, but we must not put ourselves into a “little old box”. For many, the ageing process can feel like a limitation rather than an opportunity, so it’s time to flip that assumption on its head. After a long and successful career, working hard and travelling, it became clear Vera had not been looking after herself physically. A stint with a personal trainer didn’t quite hit the spot, so after talking with Kat, she took yoga classes in her home, then started going on retreats. Physically, her practice has impacted the osteoporosis in her body, improved lower back pain and developed her strength and mobility (she can even do crow pose)!

But, it was the philosophy of yoga which has really taken hold in her life, and has instigated a radical transformation. How many of us never let it go? Where once Vera thought holding on to the past made her stronger, she now sees yoga as an outlet to logically and calmly address her issues and let the past be. Age is no barrier to learning new ways of living; you can be active, you can be creative, you can give and you can be kind to yourself. In this episode, Vera talks about her increased self awareness, reflects on the challenges of motherhood and explains just what makes the yoga community so special. Her advice to anyone who thinks they are too old for yoga? Do not limit yourself; “grasp the moment and the beauties of life, enjoy everything around you, notice it.” But above all, you are never too old to be a student, so do not fear the mat, “if you do an hour of yoga, you feel so good, so happy.”

Kat and Vera chat about…

How Vera came to yoga (4:50)

* The search for something more challenging and the ‘yoga spirit’

Letting go (6:05)

* How deeply moving the philosophy of yoga can be and the impact Andrea Kwiatkowski had on Vera* Yoga is an outlet for calmly and logically addressing issues* It’s not always easy: why is meditation and savasana so hard?* “It does you more harm if you’re destructive about a thought than if you just give way and just let it wash over you”

Laughing at yourself (12:36)

* “If I can’t do it, I just laugh at myself” * What is it about Jonelle Lewis and Zephyr Wildman that make them Vera’s favourite teachers?

Age and Osteoporosis (15:20)

* Learn how Vera’s philosophy about aging helps her increase her bone density:...