At age 50, I am happily reinventing myself. When my first child was born I left computer programming to be a full time mom. For the last 24 years I filled my life raising three kids, managing our home and with fulfilling volunteer work and writing. I have no regrets but was worrying a lot about what to do next, about finding work.
About 15 years ago I began to take yoga.

I loved ballet as a kid and tried it again after having my third child. My balance was off and I felt clumsy with my motherly shape. I had never joined a gym; my exercise consisted of shlepping groceries and laundry and pushing a stroller. I practiced balance when I rode the subway and it was proved to be lacking by my falls. I broke my ankle tripping over a toy, namely Frog Soccer. My breath was shallow and I needed some time for myself. I noticed a yoga class was given at the Hewlett district adult-ed. I had enjoyed yoga in the early 1980s at Brooklyn College, so I figured why not?
I was hooked from the start! I loved my down to earth teacher and enjoyed stretching my body and holding poses while breathing deeply. As a mom of three kids, I craved calm and relief from the hectic pace at home, if only for the duration of the 75 minute class. I had a series of unique teachers, and gleaned what I needed from each. When the classes ended, I followed my teacher to a gym but really disliked that environment. Doing yoga in a room that was recently filled with sweaty spinners and hearing the thumping music from another class wasn’t ideal. I played Yoga videos at home when I needed a fix but I missed a real class.