Aggie's voice - a new venture in your 60s
Aggie MacKenzie, the ‘Queen of Clean', decided to become a yoga instructor in her 50s. She's managed to continue working through the pandemic so that she and her clients can remain fit and healthy.
Now 65, Aggie has been spending lockdown at her home in London, where she gives online yoga classes. “When I turned 50 I decided I needed to do more to look after my body and fitness levels. I got into yoga at my local gym and it wasn’t long before I was making time for a yoga session every day,” says Aggie. “I really love yoga. It has provided structure to my life as well as helping me to stay fit and healthy.”
A friend suggested she should become a yoga instructor, so she decided to take the plunge. Aggie says: “Training to be an instructor isn’t easy; it’s a big commitment and took 18 months. There’s a lot of written coursework, anatomy and physiology – all quite a challenge.
“But I got there about four years ago and was soon leading sessions a couple of times a week, at the weekends and on Wednesday evenings. It feels like long way away from those days in TV but it has been wonderful.”
When the COVID-19 lockdown began, Aggie was left wondering how she could continue her yoga classes. “I could see that many activities were moving online, including Zoom. But it was new to me and, at first, I couldn’t see how it would work. But I decided to give it a go and found that it was quite easy to set up and to stay connected through the yoga sessions.”
It’s great to keep on learning new skills and enjoying new experiences. Staying connected with a diverse group of people really matters.
Aggie’s Zoom classes have been running daily since the March lockdown. “I’m on the mat every morning at 8am, ready to teach. What has been so good is that yoga gives both me and my yogis a purpose to get up and provides structure to our day.”
Aggie is inspired by her students, particularly one who is now 80. “She has been coming for over two years. At first, she was pretty wobbly and now she can stand for ages on one foot; her balance, strength and flexibility are hugely improved. It has given her so much confidence.”
Aggie says yoga began as a hobby that she never expected to turn into a career in later life. “I’m so grateful that this is how it has worked out. Here I am, at 65, really busy and enjoying life. I’m doing yoga every day, and I can honestly say I am stronger, fitter and more flexible than I have ever been.”
Her change of direction and setting up a new venture in her 60s has made Aggie think about the importance of planning for later life. “I think it’s important to find something that will sustain you emotionally as you get older. It’s great to keep on learning new skills and enjoying new experiences. Staying connected with a diverse group of people really matters.
“As a friend said to me, ‘If not now, then when?’ These days I’m more inclined to say yes to things that I used to say no to…because why not?”
