Friday, 29 October 2021
Too Old Context
After an intense session of Hot Yoga, I got to wondering when, at what age, should you stop exercising? And how do I lower my expectations of the results as time goes on? Is this something that happens naturally? I guess it all boils down to one question; how do you know you’re too old?
For your information, the Bonfire Yoga site describes their Hot Yoga routine as a series of 27 yoga asanas (postures) and two breathing exercises performed in a room heated up to 37°C (98.6°F). And yes, it’s hot! I began trying to get one session in a week, although I’d like to get to three by mid next year.
Long gone are the days when I’m expecting my belly to become taut, flat and terrific. I never knew what I had until I don’t have it anymore 😟. My flexibility sucks at the moment, even though I’m pleasantly noticing incremental improvements with each session I attend. Sadly, this flexibility could change depending on the instructor.
So, what is an acceptable age to stop or be too old? Am I persisting because I’m hanging onto the idea of returning flexibility? Or will I get the flexibility back? Basically, when is it too late? Do I have to give up climbing trees? When do you know?
For my part, I’m going to tread down the path of many before me and either wait until I just ‘know’ or find out the hard way with something going wrong. No, my ankle fall in January wasn’t related to my age! It was a regular spot for people of all ages to fall
Role Model Images
You see, I have a problem when it comes to being “too old”. The issue stems from two factors: firstly, my mother is a dynamic woman who, despite her protests that she can’t do something, manages to do the task anyway.
Secondly, Betty White, Jane Fonda, Clint Eastwood, and other actors have demonstrated that they are flexible and talented at any age, at least on the worldly visible side. Alas, proving that you’re never too old to tackle seemingly impossible things for someone mature.
Today's Cards
The Cards - Analysis
Carryover Cards
Two cards carried over from yesterday to today’s discussion of too old; Adventure didn’t move and stayed in the Influence spot, Moment to Moment moved from Goal to Feelings.
Cross
Oops, there I go again! Clinging to the Past, that would be my longing for a flat, taut belly. Wondering, when am I too old? It might even be the result of the Adventure helping the hurt friend who brought my past coping capabilities (Day 301) 🙄.
Given I’m not too old to have had experiences and glad I’ve had them, which is a weird thing to say, I know. But living through a similar experience and remaining active might help. It does, however, awaken one’s nostalgia.
Indeed, having a Goal of Turning In would allow me to let go. One of the things I’m unclear of is, why is reminiscing such a horrible thing? Provided I’m not attached to it, what could it hurt?
Perhaps, it’s the longing associated with the nostalgia where you can come unstuck or stuck, as the case might be? Argh, that’s it, isn’t it? 😔 But that’s not what makes it too old? Oh well, there’s still work to do on me – still too young to be too wise. 😏
In the Distant Past, I’ve settled into Silence and understood things will not be the same, and at some point, I will be too old. It’s with the recent Integration (Recent Past) of helping by retelling your coping strategies, hoping the person receiving it can garner something from it to help themselves.
Once the retelling is complete, you’re left to your Aloneness in Future Energy, as the person goes and sorts through the new information they got.
Base
Contrary to the circumstances of Clinging to the Past, my Feelings are that I met yesterday’s Goal, and I’m moving from Moment to Moment or taking one step at a time.
Others’ Views indicate that I’ve been involved and supportive, and my Participation makes a difference. And thankfully, I’m not too old.
Internally, Hopes & Fears has Intensity. I fear that I cannot control my Intensity regarding my experiences and hope that I have released enough to be helpful but held back, making it about me. It’s tough!
Finally, The Creator in the Outcome position indicates I’m using my experience and applying it to the present circumstances with wisdom and control.
In summary, I think you’re never too old to make decisions for yourself. There’s something to be said for the aging process and experience, is that if you listen, it’s not that you’re too old it’s more that it’s something you don’t want to do anymore. Yoga, even hot, is low impact, and I feel better after attending.
For instance, Do I want to go to a nightclub and hip hop even if I have the capability? If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t. It’s fun to imagine I could go and do it, but the real reason for going to a nightclub and participating is not because I’m too old but more like it’s longer applicable to me. 🤔
Side note: The Creator card looked like an evolved and merged version of the Turning In card’s figure and the colours of the Intensity and Participation cards. It’s probably just me looking for patterns.
References
- Osho, Osho Zen Tarot – The Transcendental Game of Zen, St Martin’s Press, ISBN 0-312-11733-7
- Tarot Layouts per month
SEO – Following an intense yoga class, where I struggled at times, I began to wonder at what age are you too old to do things?
