I’m Not Just Teaching You About Aging—I’m Aging Right Alongside You

Written by Jackie Paunil, Creator of the Young Heart Yoga App, E-RYT, RPYT, CHC, MFA

Empowering older adults to move, breathe, and thrive with grace and vitality.

I didn't become interested in teaching older adults because I read a book about aging.

I've spent decades teaching movement, studying yoga, meditation, anatomy, wellness, and the ways our bodies change throughout life. And of course, I'm experiencing some of those changes myself.

I'm aging right alongside you.

That doesn't mean I have all the answers. Quite honestly, I'm learning some things along the way, too.

Some days my body feels strong and cooperative. Other days, it apparently has its own agenda.

Recovery can take a little longer now. Balance deserves more attention. Strength becomes something I think about differently. And I've become increasingly aware that the yoga practice that served my body years ago has evolved as my body evolves.

That's aging.

Experience Matters

There's a difference between studying older adults and actually experiencing the changes that come with getting older.

I've spent years teaching people how to move. I've watched students become stronger, more mobile, and more confident. I've also seen how intimidating movement can become when someone doesn't trust their balance, has stiff joints, feels weaker than they once did, or simply isn't sure what their changing body needs.

And I understand some of those experiences from the inside.

That perspective matters.

Research supports the idea that exercise for older adults should be individualized rather than treated as a one-size-fits-all prescription. An international consensus on exercise and healthy longevity emphasizes tailoring exercise to an individual's abilities, health status, goals, and response to training (Izquierdo et al., 2025).

In other words, your age tells me something about you. It doesn't tell me everything about you.

Your Body Isn't the Same as Everyone Else's

There is no single "older adult body."

One person may be hiking mountains at 75. Another may be rebuilding strength after surgery. Someone else may have excellent cardiovascular fitness but struggle with balance. Another person may simply want to get down on the floor and back up without making it a major production.

That means yoga for older adults should offer options.

It should make room for different levels of strength, mobility, balance, experience, and confidence.

Research supports yoga as a potentially useful form of movement for older adults. Systematic reviews have found benefits in areas including physical function, balance, flexibility, strength, and psychological well-being, although the research also shows considerable variation among yoga programs and study designs (Ko et al., 2023; Ward et al., 2019).

That's why I don't believe in teaching a pose simply because "this is what we do next."

I want you to understand why you're doing it, how it should feel, and what options you have.

What Aging Has Taught Me

I've learned that strength matters.

I've learned that balance deserves practice before we desperately need it.

I've learned that mobility isn't something we should take for granted.

I've learned that recovery is part of training—not evidence that we're doing something wrong.

I've learned that mindfulness becomes increasingly valuable when our bodies don't always behave the way we'd like them to.

And perhaps most importantly, I've learned that we don't have to fight our changing bodies to care for them.

We can listen.

We can adapt.

We can become stronger without pretending we're 30.

And we can practice yoga without trying to look like someone on the cover of a magazine who apparently has never encountered a stiff hip.

Why I Created Young Heart Yoga

This is one of the reasons I created Young Heart Yoga.

Older adults don't need yoga designed for someone else's body and simply labeled "senior yoga."

They need thoughtful instruction that considers the realities of this stage of life.

That means practices that support:

• Mobility

• Balance

• Strength

• Flexibility

• Mindfulness

• Body awareness

• Accessibility

• Confidence

• Sustainable practice

  
  

And it means understanding that a pose can be modified without becoming "less than."

A chair isn't a consolation prize.

A block isn't cheating.

Rest isn't quitting.

And choosing the version of a movement that works for your body today is not giving up.

It's paying attention.

Aging Alongside You

I don't want to teach older adults from some imaginary place where I think I've figured out aging.

I'm still learning.

I'm still adapting.

I'm still discovering what my body needs.

And I'm grateful for that because it keeps me curious—and it keeps me honest as a teacher.

I understand what it's like to have decades of movement experience and still encounter something your body didn't used to do.

I understand that sometimes you can hike for miles and then discover that getting up from the floor requires a brief strategic assessment.

And I understand that aging isn't simply about preventing decline.

It's about continuing to participate in your life.

Yoga can help you move toward that goal by supporting mobility, balance, physical function, body awareness, and well-being. Research on yoga among community-dwelling older adults has found improvements across several physical and psychological outcomes, although—as with all exercise research—results vary according to the program and the individual (Ko et al., 2023).

Come Practice With Me

If you're looking for a yoga teacher who isn't pretending to have completely figured out aging—but who has spent decades teaching movement, continues to study, and is learning, adapting, and aging right alongside you—I'd love for you to join me.

The Young Heart Yoga App was created specifically for older adults who want accessible yoga and meditation that respects where they are today while encouraging them to keep moving forward.

Create an account and practice with me through the Young Heart Yoga App, available through the Apple App Store, Google Play, and your web browser.

You don't have to be more flexible.

You don't have to be younger.

You don't have to keep up with anyone.

You just have to show up for the body you have today.

And I'll be right there doing the same.

About the Author

Jackie Paunil is a published author, wellness advocate, and creator of the Young Heart Yoga App, designed for active and older adults seeking balance, vitality, and mindfulness. With certifications including E-RYT, RPYT, CHC, and an MFA, Jackie combines her extensive training and life experience to inspire others to live with purpose and wellness.

Residing on a ranch in Casa Grande, Arizona, Jackie leads an organic lifestyle surrounded by animals she adores. She is a devoted wife, mother, proud “GiGi” to her grandchildren, and a world traveler who has explored the depths as a master scuba diver. Her in-person yoga and meditation classes, alongside her app, reflect her passion for helping others thrive. Jackie's teaching philosophy is grounded in her own holistic practices, empowering students to embrace sustainable, joyful movement and mindfulness for a more vibrant life.

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References

• Izquierdo, M., de Souto Barreto, P., Arai, H., Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Cadore, E. L., Cesari, M., Chen, L.-K., Coen, P. M., Courneya, K. S., Duque, G., Ferrucci, L., Fielding, R. A., García-Hermoso, A., Gutiérrez-Robledo, L. M., Harridge, S. D. R., Kirk, B., Kritchevsky, S., Landi, F., Lazarus, N., ... Fiatarone Singh, M. A. (2025). Global consensus on optimal exercise recommendations for enhancing healthy longevity in older adults (ICFSR). The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 29(1), 100401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100401 

• Ko, K.-Y., Kwok, Z. C. M., & Chan, H. Y.-L. (2023). Effects of yoga on physical and psychological health among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 18(5), e12562. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12562 

• Lee, J. L. C., Xing, J., & Ho, R. T. H. (2023). What is known from the published literature about yoga interventions delivered in community settings for older adults? A systematic scoping review. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 31(6), 1039–1050. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2022-0346 

• Ward, L., Stebbings, S., Sherman, K. J., Cherkin, D., & Baxter, G. D. (2019). The effects of yoga compared to active and inactive controls on physical function and health-related quality of life in older adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 16, 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-019-0789-2