Her Advice: ‘Just Move’ By Victoria DeWilligen Photo by Aubrey Hillis
A
t 71 years old, Judy Look is doing more things than most people do in their 20s. On top of being a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a congressional aide, Judy also teaches yoga at the YMCA in downtown Louisville. While most people would be overwhelmed by such a busy lifestyle, Judy enjoys keeping her schedule full. “I love it,” she says. “I’ve always said, ‘When you stop learning, you might as well just throw in the towel.’ As long as I’m doing things where I feel like I’m learning, then I’ve got a ton of energy. I don’t want to give any of it up.” Judy felt uncomfortable and embarrassed when she first began taking yoga classes. She often would hide in the back of the class so she wouldn’t be noticed, but she stuck with it and continued to get more comfortable each time she went. Eventually, she decided that she really loved yoga and got certified as a YogaFit instructor. Now, she teaches at the YMCA. “I love teaching at the Y, and I love people who take yoga down at the Y. ” Judy likes to describe her yoga class as “nontraditional.” In addition to traditional yoga, she tends to incorporate other types of exercises into her classes to make them even more beneficial for the people who attend. “People have just so much time to dedicate to fitness,” she says. “I try to incorporate a little Pilates in it. Sometimes I’ll do iron yoga, using weights in the yoga poses.” She also likes to stay away from traditional
yoga music, sometimes playing James Taylor, Seal, or any other requests she receives. While staying fit is a definite benefit to taking Judy’s class, she believes the biggest benefit is having that hour to take time to slow down, focus on what your body is feeling, and pay attention to your breathing. Many people think yoga is about learning how to twist your body into crazy shapes or “becoming a pretzel,” but Judy says that’s not where the value of yoga lies. “Yoga is all about breathing,” she explains. “If you can incorporate breathing into your everyday life, you have basically mastered yoga. Yoga is really designed to get you through daily life, breathing As long as she is able, through difficult Judy Look plans to stay times.” active and busy with her grandchildren, teaching Yoga classes like yoga classes, and more. Judy’s are a great option for all those who want a safe that means exercising or just way to stay active as they get doing small tasks. “Just move older. It’s something that has — I cut grass, I clean my been a big part of Judy’s life house. Just move,” she says. for the past 15 years, and she As long as she is able, absolutely recommends other Judy plans to continue to people try it as an option to stay active and busy. “My stay fit. Her general advice grandchildren are using to anyone wanting to stay scooters right now, and I active is to keep doing things would like to attempt to use that get you moving, whether
36 Summer 2018 / TodaysTransitionsNow.com
the scooters,” she says with a laugh, “but really, as long as I can still run three miles, I’m pretty satisfied. I say, ‘If I died tomorrow, what would I be glad I’d done?’ And it definitely wouldn’t be sitting and doing nothing.”