91 Year Old Sets World Record | Real Estate Scorecard

Published on January 6, 2012

It was exciting to read about Bernice Bates in this month’s issue of AAA’s Going Places magazine, the story written by Nick Ferry. A resident of St. Petersburg Florida, Bernice has been teaching yoga for more than 50 years. On November 17, 2011, Bates was designated as the “World’s Oldest Yoga Instructor” by the Guiness Book of World Records. The great grandmother teaches yoga at Mainlands Retirement Community Center in Pinellas Park Florida. Students of all ages attend including pregnant women and a handful of women in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Bernice is on our list of inspiring women. The hot topic of conversation amongst our Baby Boomer friends is what can we do now to find fulfillment, now that we’ve become empty nesters and our kids have gone off to college. If you think about Bernice, she didn’t start teaching yoga until she reached age 40 which is the typical 10 year period where people experience a mid life crisis. Longing to preserve our youth, we try Botox, tummy tucks, red corvettes and buy the hottest baby boomer toys hoping they will make us look and feel young again.

Choosing to teach yoga has benefited Bernice personally by improving the quality of her life as she ages. It has been said as we age, teaching others and giving back to society satisfies our soul in ways hard to describe. Not everyone is ready to try something new. But why not? Let's be inspired and get out of our comfort zone.

You may not know about the Sun City Poms from Phoenix Arizona or the Durham Senior Diva Cheerleading Squad from North Carolina who are more inspiring women. Members of these cheerleading squads are over age 55. Can you imagine how much fun these grandma’s are having learning new cheers and performing in front of large audiences? We know our grandkids would fall on the floor laughing if we attempted to cheer like these ladies. What better gift can we give them than the gift of memories and laughter, even if it's at our expense. You can enjoy the Sun City Poms and Durham Senior Diva Cheerleading video’s on YouTube.

The National Senior Games Association host winter and summer sport competitions nationally every other year. During the 2011 winter competitions in New York, seniors from across the country came to compete in ice hockey, curling, pickle-ball and speed skating. The next National Senior Games Association competition is in 2013 giving you plenty of time to find a team and train. Regional competitions take place annually across America. You can't help but love their motto:

To change the attitude and perception - age is not be feared.
To provide opportunities to exercise new behaviors - age is not to be feared.

It’s the beginning of a new year and the perfect time to set new goals. What's next for empty nesters? Try something new until you find what inspires you. Don’t wait until you retire or are older and in poor health. Congratulations Bernice Bates and the Sun City Poms. We honor inspiring women like you!