Do You Have a Career or a Community?

Many people come to yoga young in life, eager to stretch into a new awareness and the potential for strength and flexibility. But many mature people also embrace yoga, finding it adds to their meaning and purpose along with strength and vitality.

At Sōl Yoga Collective, we are honored to see retirees climbing onto their mats along with folks in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even teens. We know it’s not just the asanas they come to class for – it’s the community.

Many people look to their careers for a sense of identity and purpose, learning and growing and reaching important milestones. But when you ask people in retirement what they miss the most about their former professions, it isn’t the work at all. It’s the coworkers, the community, and the social connections they long for. Once they leave their place of employment, sometimes they also lose that sense of community. We see that during yoga as well, both on and off the mat. A shared experience like a challenging yoga posture brings us together in a very real way! A warm smile from someone while we enter or exit the practice room or a brief verbal exchange in the lobby gives us a sense of belonging and a way to actively participate in something that benefits us all.

You might think that simply taking up a hobby is a worthy substitute for work but studies show that’s just not true. Knitting or hiking or collecting rare items in retirement can be pleasurable but it doesn’t replace the connection to other people – including younger people that they can both mentor and learn from.

This is a valuable lesson not only to those in retirement, but to everyone else on their own professional journey. Don’t just rack up those commendations and certificates. Build relationships that will last beyond your professional career. Look around at those you work with and ask yourself, “Who do I enjoy spending time with? Do I show my appreciation for them? Who would I like to get to know better? And am I paying enough attention to the people and less to the problems of my work life?” Because someday, after you have left the workforce, those connections you develop now might become the most valuable part of your retirement.

And needless to say, if you know a retiree who could use a little more connection, along with some joyful movement, bring them to Sōl!