Yoga for People Who
Want to Age Well
Welcome to Yoga for the Ages- where your age and the aging process is celebrated.
From the day we are born, we begin to age. As babies, we are weak and at the mercy of our parents or other humans. The only thing we can do for ourselves is suckle. But we grow and we get stronger. We continue to get stronger until we don’t. As we age, if we aren’t vigilant and diligent, our bodies become weaker, stiffer, and less resilient.
Your body begins to show signs of aging around twenty years old although you probably won’t notice it much until your fifties. How you age is not inevitable. We have a say in HOW our bodies age and how early and quickly that happens.
We can choose strength, agility, and flexibility in our bodies and our minds. Yoga can be a very powerful tool in living a vibrant, active, and independently mobile life well into our oldest years.
About Me
Gayle Fleming, RYT 300, RYT 500
I was 28 years old when I began practicing yoga in 1978. During my early years of practice, there were no yoga studios, no yoga mats, or yoga clothes. All I had was a paperback book called Richard Hittleman’s 28 Day Yoga Plan. I taught myself from that book but had no idea why the poses I learned made me feel so good, physically and mentally. It would be years before I started to unravel the complexities of the ancient philosophy of wellness for the mind, body, and soul that caused the feeling of well-being I derived from the practice of yoga. Since 1999, I have taught yoga to people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. I believe unequivocally that every body can benefit from practicing yoga.
I received my 300-hour teacher certification from Sun and Moon Yoga Studio, and my 500-hour advanced teacher certification from Willow Street Yoga. I also completed an Ayurvedic Yoga training certification program with Dr. Marc Halpern at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center. I have trained with the Veterans Yoga Project in Mindful Resilience and Trauma Recovery. Additionally, I studied yoga therapy with Doug Keller and with Joseph and Lillian LePage of Integrative Yoga Therapy and I continue to study this ancient system and train with teachers whom I admire.
But I also continue to learn from my own body. I consider my body as a laboratory from which I am always deriving knowledge and understanding. As I experience my own body aging, I continue to learn how to adapt my practice to the realities of my changing body. Rather than bemoan the vagaries of a body that doesn’t want to do everything I want it to, I listen, feel, and celebrate the wonders of what my body CAN do, thanks to the persistent practice of yoga.
Testimonials
Our family has found a great deal of comfort and joy in Gayle. She is a humble, compassionate, patient, and prescient yoga teacher, Gayle is a steadfast anchor and a welcomed, if not indispensable, addition to our Saturday morning routine. She has masterfully brought the true essence of yoga practice into our lives, charting a journey into mindfulness and presence for my family, which consists of my husband and brother (both in their 40s), my 8-year-old daughter, my mom who is 76, and myself.
We all bring a myriad of physical abilities, a range of ages, and varying degrees of ailments. Every Saturday, Gayle, in her calm and instinctive way, meets all of us where we are, finely adapting our sessions to help center/align our mind, body, and spirit. Generous in sharing/imparting knowledge, and attuned to individual and collective growth, Gayle radiates vibrant energy full of warmth and care, always reminding us that the practice we endeavor to perfect is being here now.
She is a wonderful teacher and a magnificent example of how one must endeavor to live a full life. I am a fan of Gayle and feel fortunate to have crossed paths with her. She simply is a powerhouse!
Julie Lee and family
"I can honestly say that Gayle is one of the best yoga teachers I have ever had and I look forward to her classes more than any other. Gayle imparts wisdom that I find both insightful and approachable but never heavy-handed. Gayle personifies what it means to be a teacher—she cares about her students and their practice and gives her all to encourage each student on their journey."
Susan Douglas
"In the past two decades, Gayle has taught yoga classes and workshops to hundreds of students. Her classes are creative, well-rounded, and accessible to all. She is professional and compassionate, with a warm attitude and engaging personality. Students enjoy her classes without fail."
Annie Moyer, Director of Sun and Moon Yoga Studio
Gayle is a phenomenal yoga instructor! She is extremely knowledgeable and teaches from beginner to advanced students. Her students include all ages and skill levels. Over the years I have tried a variety of yoga classes. Gayle is the first and only teacher to make me feel like yoga is something I could successfully undertake. Her calm patient instruction inspires me to challenge myself and encourages me to trust my body and move and stretch in ways I never thought possible for a woman over sixty.
Pamela Pinnock