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Is It Too Late to Start Yoga?
Have you ever wondered, “Is it too late to start yoga?” Maybe you’ve thought:
If that sounds familiar, I want to share my story with you. I didn’t grow up athletic. I didn’t do ballet or gymnastics. In fact, I didn’t even step into a yoga class until I was 33 years old. Later, at 45, I had to restart my yoga practice completely after a major injury.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind, too late, or not “qualified” to practice yoga, you’re not.
https://youtu.be/AtnYZPbbgv4?si=ESNM7HV71VTvExBO
My Yoga Origin Story
When I first started yoga at 33, I was working full-time, earning my PhD, and juggling an overloaded schedule. Stress showed up everywhere… dark circles under my eyes, constant exhaustion, no balance.
A friend invited me to a yoga class at the gym, and I’ll never forget that first hour on the mat. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could just breathe.
At the time, I was lifting weights regularly, so I immediately noticed how yoga improved my flexibility and mobility. It helped me squat deeper, move better, and, just as importantly, release stress. That’s what kept me coming back.
Restarting at 45 After Injury
At 45, I broke my tibia and fibula in a hiking accident. Suddenly, even Child’s Pose was impossible. All of the progress I had built felt like it vanished overnight.
It was frustrating and humbling. But yoga taught me a powerful lesson: sometimes you have to start again. And starting again doesn’t mean failure… it means resilience.
Is It Too Late to Start Yoga? The Myths vs. Reality
Here are some common beliefs that stop people from starting yoga—and why they’re simply not true:
Yoga isn’t a competition. It’s a lifelong practice you can begin at any age.
Yoga adapts to you, not the other way around. Your practice is yours, and it will meet you exactly where you are.
Nope. Most people don’t. Social media might show the extreme poses, but real yoga is about connection, not comparison.
Maybe. But effort builds patience, discipline, and resilience. Those qualities are part of the yoga journey.
What Yoga Looks Like Later in Life
At 48, I’m just now regaining poses like Wheel after years of recovery. My practice doesn’t look like it did in my 30s and that’s okay. What matters isn’t how the pose looks, but what the practice teaches me: patience, consistency, and self-compassion.
Yoga is more than physical postures. It’s mindfulness, presence, and tools you carry into everyday life—at work, in relationships, and in stressful moments.
The Takeaway
If you’ve been asking yourself, “Is it too late to start yoga?” the answer is simple: no, it’s never too late.
Your age, background, or injuries do not disqualify you from yoga. What matters is:
Start Today
If you’re ready to begin (or restart) your yoga journey, I’d love to invite you to my free Stronger with Yoga Membership. Inside, you’ll get:
👉 Click here to join for free https://www.heathermonthie.com/free/
Because it’s never too late to start yoga.
View all episodes
By Heather Monthie, PhDHave you ever wondered, “Is it too late to start yoga?” Maybe you’ve thought:
If that sounds familiar, I want to share my story with you. I didn’t grow up athletic. I didn’t do ballet or gymnastics. In fact, I didn’t even step into a yoga class until I was 33 years old. Later, at 45, I had to restart my yoga practice completely after a major injury.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind, too late, or not “qualified” to practice yoga, you’re not.
https://youtu.be/AtnYZPbbgv4?si=ESNM7HV71VTvExBO
My Yoga Origin Story
When I first started yoga at 33, I was working full-time, earning my PhD, and juggling an overloaded schedule. Stress showed up everywhere… dark circles under my eyes, constant exhaustion, no balance.
A friend invited me to a yoga class at the gym, and I’ll never forget that first hour on the mat. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could just breathe.
At the time, I was lifting weights regularly, so I immediately noticed how yoga improved my flexibility and mobility. It helped me squat deeper, move better, and, just as importantly, release stress. That’s what kept me coming back.
Restarting at 45 After Injury
At 45, I broke my tibia and fibula in a hiking accident. Suddenly, even Child’s Pose was impossible. All of the progress I had built felt like it vanished overnight.
It was frustrating and humbling. But yoga taught me a powerful lesson: sometimes you have to start again. And starting again doesn’t mean failure… it means resilience.
Is It Too Late to Start Yoga? The Myths vs. Reality
Here are some common beliefs that stop people from starting yoga—and why they’re simply not true:
Yoga isn’t a competition. It’s a lifelong practice you can begin at any age.
Yoga adapts to you, not the other way around. Your practice is yours, and it will meet you exactly where you are.
Nope. Most people don’t. Social media might show the extreme poses, but real yoga is about connection, not comparison.
Maybe. But effort builds patience, discipline, and resilience. Those qualities are part of the yoga journey.
What Yoga Looks Like Later in Life
At 48, I’m just now regaining poses like Wheel after years of recovery. My practice doesn’t look like it did in my 30s and that’s okay. What matters isn’t how the pose looks, but what the practice teaches me: patience, consistency, and self-compassion.
Yoga is more than physical postures. It’s mindfulness, presence, and tools you carry into everyday life—at work, in relationships, and in stressful moments.
The Takeaway
If you’ve been asking yourself, “Is it too late to start yoga?” the answer is simple: no, it’s never too late.
Your age, background, or injuries do not disqualify you from yoga. What matters is:
Start Today
If you’re ready to begin (or restart) your yoga journey, I’d love to invite you to my free Stronger with Yoga Membership. Inside, you’ll get:
👉 Click here to join for free https://www.heathermonthie.com/free/
Because it’s never too late to start yoga.