Bernice Bates began studying yoga in the 1960s. Through the years, she never stopped practicing it. And now, at the age of 91 (and a half!), she’s just been certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest yoga instructor in the world.
Not only is she giving back to others, she’s also smashing stereotypes about what is possible as we grow older.
Bernice tells Growing Bolder she’s not still teaching yoga for all the accolades. In fact, find out why she’s already eager for someone else to break her record.
She attributes her continued good health to a lifetime of active living.
Bernice says just because you age doesn’t mean you have to stop staying active.
She explains why yoga is especially good for people over 50 and 60, and why it’s something that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, all sizes, all ages and all abilities.
Bernice also explains how things like yoga and faith can help anyone on their darkest days, including when she lost her husband. She reveals how she learned to go on and live a life that would find her still living independently, teaching yoga and weeding her garden well into her 90s.