Is 50 the New 30? Learn why it’s never too late to start yoga and how it can help you reclaim your vitality, feel fitter and sexier, after age 50 and beyond.
Laura Venecia Rodriguez reveals her secrets of a lifelong yoga practice in her book “Gentle Yoga after 50: Get Fit, Flexible, and Feel Fantastic!”
In this episode we learn:
- The Surprising Way Laura stumbled Upon Yoga at Age 15: Find out what inspired Laura to start yoga and how two books became her first instructors.
- The Hidden Benefits of Gentle Yoga: Uncover how yoga improves bone health, reduces stress, and might even help you lose weight—with no need to be an athlete.
- Simple Steps to Incorporate Yoga into Your Busy Life: Laura shares her practical tips for starting yoga at home, even if you have just 10 minutes a day.
- Why Meditation and Journaling are Key Parts of Laura’s Routine:
- Can Yoga Keep You Young? Laura explains how embracing new challenges and staying active can help you maintain your sparkle at any age.
Get Laura’s book on Amazon and start your own yoga journey right from your living room.
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Get Laura’s book on Amazon and start your own yoga journey right from your living room.
TRANSCRIPT
**Host: Caryl Westmore**
**Guest: Laura Venecia Rodriguez**
—
**Caryl Westmore:**
Hello, everyone! I have some exciting news for you—it’s possible to maintain your sparkle and vitality even after 50. Daily yoga practice, right at home on your mat, six days a week for 50 years, has not only paid off for Laura Venecia Rodriguez but can transform our lives too.
Laura, let’s start by diving into how this journey began for you.
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
It all started because, in a way, I was born a consummate klutz. I was very unathletic as a child and didn’t find myself able to compete. I dreaded field days, where we had to run around the field. I was always the last one chosen, never made any teams in junior high or high school, and was often overlooked by coaches. Despite this, I had a strong interest in health from a young age.
Around the age of seven or eight, I convinced my mother to stop smoking because I wanted a life full of health. Exercise was clearly important, but I wasn’t getting enough as a teenager since I wasn’t on any teams. One day, by chance, I came across an article in Philadelphia Magazine. The article featured a man in the lotus pose, discussing yoga. The concept intrigued me, especially since it seemed like something I could do to stay in shape, even without being an athlete.
There were no yoga instructors available, so I turned to two books: *Yoga for Beauty and Health* by Eugene Rawls and Eve Diskin, and *Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation* by Jess Stern. These books provided detailed instructions that made yoga accessible. At age 15, I committed to making yoga a part of my daily life, and with few exceptions—like during pregnancy or illness—I’ve maintained a yoga practice for over 50 years. Yoga has become one of the pillars of my healthy lifestyle, and it’s something anyone can start at any age, even after 50, and still benefit enormously.
**Caryl Westmore:**
That’s one thing I love about your book—you emphasize that it’s never too late to start. But why did you choose 50 as a key age in your book?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
Fifty is a significant marker for many people. When you reach 50, and beyond that into your 60s and 70s, it’s a half-century milestone. At this stage, many of us realize we have more years behind us than ahead of us, and we start thinking about making the most of the time we have left. It’s about squeezing the juice out of life.
**Caryl Westmore:**
Let’s take a step back. Can you define yoga for us? You mention in your book that it’s a 5,000-year-old ancient yet scientific health system with a modern soul. How are we, in these modern times, able to benefit from such an ancient tool?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
Yoga, in its simplest definition, means the union of body, mind, and spirit. It was created thousands of years ago in India, and many poses were inspired by the movements of animals. This union brings about a holistic improvement in your physical and mental health, enhancing your overall outlook on life. While I’m not a scientist, it’s clear that yoga poses are strategically designed to maximize health benefits. And today, these practices are more relevant than ever, as people from all walks of life, including athletes and celebrities, have incorporated yoga into their routines.
**Caryl Westmore:**
You mentioned that yoga works the body from the inside out, reaching every part of the musculoskeletal system. Can you tell us more about how yoga benefits bone health, especially as we age and face concerns like osteoporosis?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
Yoga is beneficial for bones because it involves weight-bearing poses. For example, in poses like downward-facing dog, you lift your body weight, which strengthens the bones. Dr. Loren Fishman has done extensive work showing how yoga can improve bone health. Despite some skepticism from the media in the past, it’s now widely recognized that yoga can indeed support bone density.
**Caryl Westmore:**
Stress reduction is another significant benefit of yoga. Can you talk about how yoga, particularly breathwork, helps in reducing stress and anxiety?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
Absolutely. One key aspect of yoga is its focus on deep, slow breathing. When people are stressed or anxious, they tend to breathe shallowly, which can exacerbate the situation. Yoga teaches you to inhale deeply, hold your breath, and exhale slowly, which helps to calm the nervous system and reduce stress levels.
One specific technique is alternate nostril breathing, which I recommend for its calming effects. It can be done anywhere, even at work, and it’s a simple way to break the pattern of stress and re-energize.
**Caryl Westmore:**
Let’s shift gears and talk about your daily yoga routine. For those who don’t want to go to a yoga studio but want to practice at home, what do you recommend?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
The first step is to make a firm decision to incorporate yoga into your life. It’s important because it benefits your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Once you’ve decided, start small—even just five or ten minutes a day. The key is consistency. My routine usually includes meditation right after waking up, followed by yoga. On days when I’m not attending a class, I practice at home for about 25 to 30 minutes.
**Caryl Westmore:**
You also mention that yoga can help with weight loss. Can you elaborate on that?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
Yes, yoga can aid in weight loss, although it’s not typically as intense as other forms of exercise. In my book, I provide examples of people who have lost significant weight through yoga. It’s important to note that yoga often becomes part of a broader lifestyle change, which includes healthier eating and mindfulness practices that can curb stress-related eating.
**Caryl Westmore:**
You’ve had a long career in writing. How did that influence your decision to write about yoga?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
I’ve always enjoyed writing, ever since I was a child. I kept journals and wrote extensively. My career involved a lot of writing, and I wanted to share the benefits I’ve experienced from yoga. I wanted more people to know that they could practice yoga at home, without needing to go to a class. For many years, I was intimidated by the idea of attending yoga classes, so practicing at home was a perfect solution for me.
**Caryl Westmore:**
Finally, what’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
The best advice I’ve encountered is from the book *Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.* It’s about pushing through fear to accomplish what you know is important. For example, after graduate school, I knew I needed to become comfortable with public speaking, even though it was intimidating. I joined Toastmasters and stayed with the organization for 42 years, which greatly improved my speaking skills and confidence. The same principle applies to yoga—start even if you feel uncertain, and you’ll see the benefits over time.
**Caryl Westmore:**
What’s the one takeaway you’d like to leave our listeners with today?
**Laura Venecia Rodriguez:**
Challenge yourself, no matter your age. Be open to learning something new, whether it’s yoga or another practice. Staying youthful is about continually learning and embracing new trends. Never settle into old habits—keep exploring and pushing your boundaries. That’s how you stay young, vibrant, and engaged with life.
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### Tone Analysis
The tone of this conversation is **informative, encouraging, and motivational**. Laura Venecia Rodriguez shares her personal journey with yoga in a relatable and sincere manner. The language is accessible, aiming to inspire listeners of all ages to consider incorporating yoga into their lives. The tone is also **supportive**, emphasizing that it’s never too late to start and that small, consistent steps can lead to significant benefits. Laura’s narrative is intended to empower listeners, especially those who might feel intimidated or unsure about starting yoga.
### Changes and Explanations
1. **Sentence Structure:** I restructured several sentences for clarity and flow. For example, “I was always the last team” was corrected to “I was always the last one chosen.” This makes the sentence more concise and clear.
2. **Removed Redundancies:** Repetitive phrases such as “I was always the last team, et cetera,” were streamlined to maintain focus and clarity.
3. **Improved Clarity:** Some parts of the text were hard to follow, such as “I didn’t think it was, I thought, well, this is worth a try.” This was rephrased to improve readability and coherence.
4. **Conciseness:** Unnecessary filler words like “just” and “actually” were removed to make the narrative more direct.
5. **Punctuation and Grammar:** Minor grammatical errors and punctuation issues were corrected throughout the text to ensure a polished final product.
6. **Word Choice:** I replaced informal or vague language with more precise terms to better convey the intended message. For example, “cluts” was corrected to “klutz,” and “felt the fear and did it anyway” was expanded to better explain its context in public speaking.
The changes were made to enhance readability, maintain the integrity of the conversation, and ensure that the transcript effectively communicates the key messages while being engaging for the reader.