You’re never too old to become the fittest version of yourself

By Amy Marini

I was never a very athletic kid. I played a little bit of soccer growing up because I liked to run, but I was never a star player.  In hindsight, team sports made me anxious. I recall struggling with nerves right before the game began & feeling relieved if the ball was never kicked my way.  It felt good to move my body, but what I really loved was being outside.

Ever since I can remember, I feel happiest outside.  I loved to climb trees as a little girl; I would spend hours imagining what life was like for the animals up in the branches.  As I grew older,  I enjoyed walking through the local woods, exploring nature with my dog.  Hiking trips with my family in the Adirondack Mountains solidified my love of the outdoors.  As a middle-aged adult, I can now feel my blood pressure lower the moment I step outside and feel a fresh breeze or the sun on my face.

It wasn’t until my thirties that I became even remotely athletic.  Twelve years ago, after I had my first son, my husband suggested we try indoor rock climbing together.  Technical climbing always fascinated me but seemed daunting and way beyond the scope of my physical & mental capabilities.  Nevertheless, I signed up for their belay certification course, and I was immediately hooked.  I had finally found a sport that truly resonated with me at the age of thirty.

My newfound love quickly morphed into a lifestyle filled with trips to REI to acquire all the necessary gear, guide books, more wool & fleece clothing than you can shake a stick at, healthy food & a culture centered around wellness.   

Shortly after, I discovered my passion for yoga.  Not only did adding a regular yoga practice help my body recover from the physical demands of climbing, it increased my flexibility & balance, which took my climbing performance to a new level.  I sought to deepen my understanding of the practice & completed a 200-hour teacher training course right before the birth of my second child.

I began teaching shortly after and knew I had found my calling.  Having yoga and climbing in my life helped keep me healthy and strong during my last pregnancy.  Thanks to my new muscle mass & a healthy diet, my body bounced back much faster than my first pregnancy.  The two modalities complement each other in so many ways that I see yoga as the yin to climbing’s yang… Climbing pulls the body upward in space; yoga asanas counter this by pushing away from the ground.  Yoga strengthens the connective tissues in our joints, which helped prevent climbing injuries and joint pain over the years.  Learning to connect my breath to movement during periods of intensity has helped me learn to deal with stress & anxiety better than medicine alone, at least in my experience.  Nothing lifts my mood quite like moving my body regularly.  To top it off, I now possibly look & most definitely feel many years younger, even after having children.  Sharing these benefits with women and the world at large brings me joy & is such an honor.

I hope to inspire future mothers to regard parenthood as an opportunity to become the happiest, strongest version of themselves, both on & off the mat.  I firmly believe that we are better people when we prioritize our health & wellness and that our babies deserve strong, healthy parents.  In order to take care of them, we must take care of ourselves.  For this mama, that means taking an hour or two every day to get on my mat or get a few climbs in.

One particular trip to REI a few years back made me laugh.  My husband wanted me and our oldest son to give skiing a try.  The cashier teased that thirty-five was a bit too old to learn how to ski… but I know better.  It’s never too late to become a more athletic you.

Amy Marini is a City Islander, a mother of two, and an avid yogi and rock climber. Amy reaches Power Yoga and Vinyasa Flow Yoga at The Pearl.