Let’s be honest: working out in your 40s hits different........literally and metaphorically. Sometimes it hits your knees, sometimes your lower back, and on really special days, it hits your enthusiasm like a brick.
In my 30s, I was the Ashtanga Yoga Queen. Seriously, I flowed through those vinyasas like a majestic athletic swan, strong, graceful, and just a little namaste. I look back at photos from those days and think, “Wow, was that my body?” I had a real rhythm, a routine, and a love for it.
Now, in my late 40s, things have evolved. Yoga is still in my life, but it’s taken on a new role—a crucial one, in fact. While I no longer feel the same drive to hit the mat for an intense 90-minute practice, yoga has become the secret weapon in my wellness toolkit. It keeps me supple, helps me recover faster, and lets me lift weights without sounding like a snapping twig. Whether it’s helping my hips recover after squats or loosening up my shoulders post-deadlifts, yoga is the behind-the-scenes MVP of my strength training routine. Think of it as the quiet best friend who doesn’t steal the spotlight but makes sure you shine.
The real game-changer? Letting go of the idea that workouts need to be rigid or punishing. I’ve stopped trying to force myself into routines that feel like punishment. Instead, I let my body decide what it wants. Weight training? Great. A bit of cardio? Sure. A good stretch so I can still reach the top shelf without pulling something? Absolutely. But above all: it has to be fun.
The other day, I woke up, put on my hot pink headband (because YES, I still own one), blasted some classic 80s bangers through my headset, and strutted into my living room like I was the opening act for a retro fitness concert. I danced, I lifted, I sweat, I may have lip-synced to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero”—and you know what? I felt AMAZING afterward. Like, “Where’s my leg warmers and leotard?” amazing.
So here’s the moral of the story: move in a way that brings you joy. If that means power-walking to ABBA, chasing your dog around the backyard, or bench-pressing while pretending you’re in a music video—DO IT.
We don’t need to chase the workouts of our past. We just need to keep chasing the feeling of being alive, silly, sweaty, and smiling.
Do what you love. Move how you love. Be happy.
Oh, and never underestimate the power of a pink headband. 💪💃