Yoga in later life - Jo

Another in our series of Maitri Stories, this time from recently qualified teacher Joanna McCormick. Coinciding with Positive Aging Month and 1st October as the UN International Day of Older Persons, we talk to Jo about her transition to meeting the 'older person' definition and both practising and teaching yoga herself. We think it's wonderful to have older people teaching and offering their life wisdom, and we aim to ensure everyone, no matter their age, is visible and welcome at our studio. 

I discovered yoga later in life, starting at 50, during a time of menopause and a demanding career. By 61, I was now in my ‘older person’ era (60+ according to the United Nations). I had kept up a regular practice over the years, and, as I transitioned into retirement, I decided to pursue Hatha yoga teacher training. My motivation was to share the benefits of improved flexibility and mental tranquility that I had experienced and to demonstrate that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. 

As I neared the end of my training, I was encouraged to start teaching classes. Diana Fyffe, another teacher, recommended Maitri as an excellent studio for renting a space, which led me to meet with Claire Ferry, studio director. From that moment, I was convinced.

Claire has created a remarkable atmosphere and community at Maitri Studio. It is immaculate and equipped with every prop you could need—after all, props like blocks, belts, blankets, bolsters, and even chairs enhance our practice.

Another advantage of being part of the Maitri community is the opportunity to attend various classes. Alongside my personal practice, I now enjoy Claire’s Iyengar yoga sessions, which focus on body alignment and utilise props for support. Iyengar yoga is designed to be accessible for everyone, and the use of props is customized to meet individual needs. This means that as we age, there are always adjustments available to ensure correct body alignment in each pose. How wonderfully person-centered is that! 

With my background in nursing, I tailor gentle yoga classes for older adults, offering a nurturing environment in which to focus on connecting body and breath to promote overall wellbeing and relaxation whilst improving flexibility, strength and balance. As an older person myself, I can bring that direct knowledge from my nursing career as well as my personal yoga and life experience to bear on the classes. 

Jo McCormick

Want to follow up? Jo teaches on Wednesdays 6-7pm and you can read more about the class and how to contact her on Jo's profile page. You might also like to read June's story - see that and more stories as they appear on our features page.