Better Day Yoga LLC

06/04/2026

I often mention in class that were cleaning out the cobwebs as we move regularly. And imagine those who don’t stay active and can’t move as well as a result and call it “aging.”
Do more yoga! 🧘‍♀️ 💫 🙏❤️

Aging is often framed as an inevitable decline into pain, weakness, fragility, and cognitive deterioration. But many of the assumptions yoga teachers absorb about aging come less from biology and more from cultural narratives, medical systems focused on pathology, and what happens when people gradually stop moving confidently.

This matters because the stories we tell about aging influence how we teach, how much challenge we offer, and what our students come to believe is possible.

Below are six evidence-based ideas every yoga teacher should understand about the aging body.

👉1. Aging is not the same as pathology

Aging is a biological process, not a diagnosis. While the likelihood of certain conditions increases with age, aging itself is not a disease.

Many changes commonly blamed on aging are strongly influenced by inactivity, stress, social isolation, poor sleep, underloading, and reduced confidence. In other words, age is only one variable among many.

This distinction matters because yoga teachers can unintentionally frame older students as “broken” simply because they are older.

Teaching implication: Avoid treating age itself as the problem. Focus on the individual in front of you, their movement history, current capacity, confidence, and goals.

👉2. There is no such thing as a “normal older body”

One of the most important realities of aging is that variability increases with age.

Two 70-year-olds may have dramatically different levels of strength, mobility, balance, cardiovascular fitness, and independence. Chronological age tells us surprisingly little about what a person can actually do.

Some older adults are running marathons and lifting weights. Others may struggle to get up from the floor. Both are “normal”.

Teaching implication: Avoid assumptions based purely on age. Instead of categorising students as “older beginners” or “fragile seniors”, teach the person, not the stereotype.

👉3. Much of what we blame on aging is actually disuse

Loss of muscle mass, reduced balance, decreased confidence, lower bone density, and reduced physical capacity are often associated with underloading and avoidance.

Bodies adapt to what they repeatedly do, but they also adapt to what they stop doing.

If we stop challenging balance, we often lose balance confidence. If we stop loading muscles and bones, tissues may gradually become less robust. This can look like “normal aging” even though disuse is playing a major role.

Teaching implication: Overprotection can unintentionally accelerate decline. Appropriate challenge matters.

👉4. The brain remains adaptable throughout life

Neuroplasticity does not suddenly stop in midlife. The brain continues adapting in response to learning, movement, challenge, and environment across the lifespan.

Research suggests that movement, coordination tasks, cardiovascular exercise, social engagement, and learning new skills may all support brain health and cognitive resilience (Erickson et al., 2011).

Balance and coordination are not just muscular tasks, they are also neurological tasks.

Teaching implication: Simplifying movement endlessly is not always helpful. Older adults often benefit from opportunities to learn, adapt, and problem-solve.

👉5. Muscle, bone, and tendons still respond to loading later in life

One of the most important myths to challenge is the belief that tissues lose their ability to adapt after a certain age.

Research consistently shows that muscle, bone, and connective tissue remain responsive to progressive loading well into later decades of life. Older adults can improve strength, function, and physical capacity significantly with appropriate training (Fiatarone et al., 1990).

This is especially important for women, many of whom were historically discouraged from strength training altogether.

Teaching implication: Gentle movement has value, but many aging bodies also benefit from progressively loaded resistance training and impact exposure.

👉6. Beliefs about aging influence outcomes

Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of aging is expectation.

Research suggests that beliefs about aging influence behaviour, engagement, confidence, and even physiological outcomes (Levy, 2009). If people believe decline is inevitable, they may move less, challenge themselves less, and gradually become less capable.

Yoga teachers play a powerful role in shaping these narratives.

Language such as “be careful”, “don’t fall”, or “your body can’t do that anymore” may sound compassionate, but can sometimes reinforce fragility and fear.

Teaching implication: Language matters. Confidence, capability, and adaptability are important teaching themes.

👉Why this matters for yoga teachers

Yoga teachers are not simply teaching poses. We are influencing how people relate to effort, movement, aging, and their own bodies.

If we assume fragility, we may teach fragility.

If we assume adaptability, we help build capacity.

https://www.doctor-yogi.com/demystifying-aging-july-2026?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

05/30/2026

Another blue moon post!

This May, we experience two full Moons. The first, the flower moon, occurred on May 1 in the sign of Scorpio. The second, at the end of the month, is a rare blue Moon that falls on the full Moon in Sagittarius. Full Moons show us what is normally hidden. In the light of the illuminated Moon, we can see further into ourselves and those around us. We can understand things from a different perspective. And with this enhanced awareness, we can more easily release what no longer aligns with us.

The Moon will not actually be blue. Instead, it’s named for the rare experience of two full Moons in a single month. Still, expect the full Moon in Sagittarius to bring even more magic, serendipity, and revelations than usual.

The Blue Moon takes place on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 1:46 am PST.

What the Full Moon in Sagittarius Means

Full Moons occur from an opposition of the Sun and the Moon with the Earth situated in between these two luminaries. This opposition feels intense, as it brings out places we need to shift to change our vibration. Yet the full Moon allows us to understand ourselves more fully and see what needs attention in our frequency.

Each full Moon is themed by the zodiac constellation in which it is positioned and brings us an opportunity to shift our vibration in a very specific way. Each full Moon brings its own set of vibrations. The full Moon in Sagittarius reveals different energies within us compared to the full Moon in Scorpio or Aries. As we journey from one full Moon to another, through the astrological signs, we touch on every aspect of our life and personality. It is as if we are presented with a blueprint to shift our vibration, one full Moon at a time.

The blue Moon brings us an extra dose of magic. Although a blue Moon is not actually blue, the symbology of the color endures during the full Moon in Sagittarius. Blue is the color of communication. Blue Moons can shed light on how we communicate with ourselves and others. They ask us if we are speaking our most powerful truths or suppressing our authentic voice. The rarity of the blue Moon and its power to connect us to our voices give it a greater ability to lower the veil between the conscious and the subconscious minds. We can communicate with our unconscious thoughts, patterns, and feelings on a more intimate level during a blue Moon. It is a time to access the energies that lie dormant within us that are asking to be seen and heard.

Sagittarius is the seeker of truth. It is the sign that compels us to ask the bigger questions about our lives and beliefs. Under the full Moon in Sagittarius, connection to our truth becomes even more potent. Here we are invited not only to speak our truth but to discover it. The combination of the blue Moon’s ability to open the channels of communication between our conscious and subconscious minds and Sagittarius’s need to search for higher meaning creates a powerful opening.

Pay attention to what surfaces this day. You might receive insights that feel like they come from a place beyond your everyday awareness. The truths that emerge under this Moon have the potential to expand your understanding of yourself and the path you are walking.

This is also a time to look at what truths you have been avoiding. The full Moon has an ability to illuminate what we normally keep in the dark. With Sagittarius guiding this energy, the truths that surface could be connected to your beliefs, your sense of purpose, or your life’s direction. These are not small revelations. These are the kind of awarenesses that can shift the way you see everything. Allow yourself to be open to receiving them.

Let the blue Moon remind you that the Universe communicates with you in many ways, and on this night, the volume is turned up. Listen closely, speak honestly, and trust that whatever is revealed is exactly what you need to move forward.

This full Moon in Sagittarius also brings an opportunity that rarely comes around. It is time to take a quantum leap into the unknown. Not a small, calculated step. Not a carefully planned move where you can see every inch of ground ahead of you. A leap. The kind where your feet leave the earth and for a moment you are suspended in midair, trusting that you will land somewhere new and extraordinary.

Sagittarius teaches you that you are always capable of catching yourself. No matter how far you leap, no matter how unfamiliar the terrain, you have everything within you to find your footing. You always have and you always will. Think about every time in your life when you took a chance without knowing the outcome. Think about the moments when you said yes before you felt ready, when you followed a pull in your gut even though your mind was screaming to stay put. You survived every single one of those moments.






Full article:

The rare blue Moon brings magic to your mind-based fears.

05/29/2026

I rarely post twice in one day. Worth the read:

Today’s topic: How Brain Beliefs Shape Brain Health

The dominant story of brain function around the world is simple: brain function will invariably decline as we get older, leading to dementia. But while age is a strong risk factor for development of impaired cognition, an incredible new study sheds light on the fact that this is far from inevitable.
In a 2026 publication in the journal Geriatrics, two Yale researchers asked two important questions.

First, does brain function decline for everyone as they age? Second, do a person’s beliefs about aging predict their chances of having cognitive decline?

The results of this 12-year study of over 11,000 adults were striking: nearly one in three participants actually improved their cognitive function as they aged. More than half showed no meaningful decline at all. One of the strongest predictors of who improved wasn't genetics or cardiovascular health. It was what people believed about aging. Those with more positive expectations were significantly more likely to see their brains get better over time. This is exaclty the type of work that needs to be shared widely. For the whole story, click the link below.

One of the most consistent findings in brain health research is that our brains and by extension their health are majorly impacted by our lives. The brain is exquisitely sensitive to its environment, what you eat, how you sleep, how much you move, how stressed you are. But a compelling and underappr...

05/29/2026

I have ALWAYS loved moon energy and using it in my life—even for a small meditative moment. I didn’t realize how rare blue moons were! Here’s an excerpt:

The Full Blue Moon in Sagittarius will rise on May 31 or June 1 depending upon your location in this beautiful world.

A Blue Moon represents the second Full Moon in a calendar month, with the first having occurred on May 1 in Scorpio. A Blue Moon is just as rare as the phrase implies, as the last one that occurred was in 2023, while the last one in Sagittarius rose in 2016. This is a moment that will help shift timelines and bring the reminder that you’ve never been alone on your journey.

The universe is with you even in the quiet moments of life.

While it can feel like you are alone or that somehow you’ve strayed too far from the path that is meant for you, even in those beats of silence, you are protected. You are guided. This Full Blue Moon in Sagittarius is a reminder of just that.

The Full Blue Moon in Sagittarius is an inner journey that asks you, nay, invites you to decide once and for all:

What are you going to do with this beautiful life?

While the world may seem to be in turmoil around you, and the only constant is the inconsistencies and blatant disregard for humanity and the earth, that doesn’t mean all is lost. But you have to look past the obvious and see that no great change can take place without first the chaos that precedes it.

And so take that into your own heart, into the quiet places within and realize that your chaos is needed as well. Your moments of falling on the floor unsure how to put together the pieces of the only life you ever knew. The times that you questioned everything and still knew nothing. Your chaos was a necessary part of your journey, for into the confusion of where to go from here, your faith is born.

While the Moon may make magic, it is up to you to receive it.

To make the most of it. Instead of only dwelling in what is, Sagittarius raises you up to imagine what could be, both within yourself, your community, and the collective. The only guarantee is that change will always happen, yet knowing that gives you the power to affect it in a positive way. You are being called to stand up, to see just how much power you have, and to not shy away from what is right. What you know in your soul is part of living your purpose during this lifetime.

Anything becomes possible when you believe that it can. Pause for a moment and listen to your heart. Breathe in and out in a rhythm only the earth knows. Remember what stillness feels like, what it means to no longer be separated from the most valuable part of yourself. Return to your center, to your intuition, and to the divine being that you are. Telling yourself you are loved, that you matter, and that regardless of what the past has held, the future can be better than you’ve dreamed.

The Full Blue Moon in Sagittarius is a miracle moon.

A moment when sense can be made from the nonsensical, truth deciphered from secrets, and gratitude borne from grief. It’s a chance for you to realize you are right where you’re meant to be. Nothing has been lost, nor sacrificed. Because the journey to your destiny is also about shaping you.

To celebrate the Moon is to know that you aren’t who you were at the New Moon in December. It’s to understand the cyclical nature of life, and that the spaces of time represent your becoming. Celebrate all you were, and all that you are now. Hold space for what feels undone or that you are still processing, but never lose sight of the purpose that you hold in this life.

Sagittarius is the cycle breaker and encourages you to break free from your comfort zone which means new offers, opportunities, or romances may enter your life during this period. Unexpected abundance, and the lure of adventures unknown. This is a fierce fire energy that brings passion to your life and helps to change everything in the best possible of ways. Yet, this energy won’t come with patience or the ability to engage in self-doubt before saying yes. Move with confidence, and trust in that what calls to you is genuinely meant for you so that you can see exactly what happens when you are co-creating with the universe.

Step into the energy of this lunation, not just for yourself or your own dreams, but for the world because it needs you. And together, not only can we right the wrongs, and find our purpose but perhaps, maybe we can also finally learn from the past.

You are here for a purpose—for a reason, and the Full Blue Moon in Sagittarius will finally help reveal that to you. The Full Blue Moon in Sagittarius will rise on May 31

05/21/2026

Yoga is weight training…in my humble opinion. You’re lifting your body weight. Just do it! 💫

The Midlife Muscle-Brain Connection Doctors Rarely Talk To Women About

In reality, skeletal muscle plays a major role in glucose disposal, insulin sensitivity, physical function, and healthy aging. It also acts as an endocrine organ, releasing signaling molecules known as myokines2 that help muscles communicate with other tissues, including the brain.

Muscle health is strongly tied to mobility, fall resistance, physical independence, and metabolic health as women age. That becomes especially relevant in midlife, when menopause and aging together are associated with changes in lean mass, strength, and body composition3.

What many women interpret as "slowing down" may reflect physiologic changes that deserve attention, not dismissal.
The brain-muscle connection
The relationship between muscle and cognition is now one of the more compelling areas of healthy-aging research4.

Physical activity supports brain health through multiple pathways, including improved insulin sensitivity, better sleep, lower inflammation, and neuroplasticity. Resistance training, in particular, has been associated with benefits in executive function and other cognitive outcomes in older adults, although the literature is still evolving.

Exercise can also influence neurotrophic signaling, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is involved in learning, memory, and neuronal adaptation.
In other words, movement is not only changing the body. It is also influencing the brain5.

For women in midlife, this reframes strength training entirely. It is not simply about aesthetics or weight management. It is one of the most practical ways to support metabolic health, preserve function, and invest in long-term resilience.

You don't have to feel like you're living in a haze — the answer may be hiding in your workout