Written by: Ravi Vaidya, 70 years old yoga practitioner and teacher

In my younger days, I practiced various exercises such as boxing, karate, tai chi, and weightlifting. These exercises helped me work on my physical body and learn different fighting techniques. But they didn’t strengthen my inner body as much. I really wanted to strengthen my mental and emotional health and that is when I discovered yoga.

I was 53 years old when I was introduced to yoga in 2003. Since then I have been practicing yoga with my friends. These days we practice at our yoga school ‘Scientific Yoga Centre’ which was established in 2008. I am the founder chairperson of this yoga centre. I truly enjoy studying, practicing and teach yoga - I just love it!

Yoga has different aspects: Asana (stretching), Pranayama (breathing exercises) and Dhyana (meditation). I specialize in Pranayama, and so I am also known as a Pranayama healer among my students, friends and my community.

I am 70 years old now and live a healthy and active life. I still feel young, have great memory and intellectual abilities. The credit for this goes to my yoga habit. Yoga can be practiced by people of any age whether that be a 5-year-old child or a 100- year-old adult. It is never too early or too late to start practicing yoga. 

My message to my elderly friends is to start yoga without feeling that it’s too late. Start with the feeling of “I can! and I will!”. I want to inspire you all to practice yoga and help in any possible way. I have also started a YouTube Channel with an aim to guide people to practice yoga. Hope the materials that I have shared will help you in your yoga journey.