Janice Lennard is one of the most in-demand yoga and pilates instructors in the country.
She also happens to be 74 years old. She says she’s discovered a secret, and it’s become her mission to spread the message that, “You’re never too old to do any exercise, especially yoga and pilates.”
A lifelong dancer, she had always been involved with yoga, but when she turned 60 she transitioned her emphasis from dance to yoga, pilates and ballet bar and was amazed with the results. She began teaching classes and saw the same results in others. Teaching became her passion, and soon she was leading as many as sixteen classes a week. She says she never gets tired of helping others.
“After a class it’s so nice when someone comes up and says, ‘not only do I enjoy your class so much, you’ve changed the way my body feels, and the way I feel about my body.’”
She believes many people have the misconception that exercise has to be strenuous but she teaches that with yoga in pilates that’s not necessarily true.
“You don’t always have to push to be in shape,” she explains. “Sometimes the best way is to take it easy and to do it a little bit at a time and before you know it, you’ve gotten further than you ever expected.”
She understands that everyone faces obstacles. She’s had her share to deal with, but she believes her conditioning has helped her overcome them. In fact, she was back teaching classes just three weeks after hip replacement surgery and went on to make a full recovery. “You just have to know your limitations and do what you can,” she says.
She says that now in her 70s, her life is active, engaged and filled with purpose, not at all what she expected age would bring. And that’s her takeaway for Ageless Fitness.
“I never think about myself as being old, I really don’t,” she explains. “It’s crazy, but it seems so obvious to me that you should do whatever you feel good about doing, as long as you’re doing something.”
She says you have a much better chance of success when your daily routine becomes a way of life, at any age.
“You can always get better, always improve, no matter how old you are. And I intend to keep doing it.”
At 74, Janice Lennard is changing lives.
What will you do with Ageless Fitness?
To hear Janice’s story in her own words head to
