HEAD-TO-KNEE POSEThe yoga started probably thirty years ago—
it seems like forever ago—because I had a lot
of injuries. I had a bad back from when I was in
high school and some girl pulled a chair out
from under me when I went to sit down. I am
ninety-one and remember her name to this day.
I broke my tailbone; it was untreated, and I ulti-
mately got terrible arthritis in it.
So with my late first husband, to whom I was
married for forty years, I would sometimes fly
down from New York to spas in Florida. At these
places, they would have yoga, and I would do it
and love it. I also used to go to Canyon Ranch
and do yoga there.
One day about ten years ago, when I was
doing yoga as part of a regular exercise program
for my back, I asked the instructor, “Could you
come to my home and do this?” She said yes, and
we started to practice together every morning
at my apartment. That was Molly. She moved to
Connecticut a few years ago, but I’ve continued
to do yoga daily ever since, and my second hus-
band practices with me. At the end of a session, I
meditate, and when I’m troubled I do a lot of the
breathing exercises.
When you age, your body doesn’t function
the way it used to. You almost don’t know whose
body you’re living in anymore. So you start to
develop a new relationship with it.
I’ve learned to do the best I can, and it means
a lot to me to be able to continue to understand
my body through yoga.