The Youthful Older Yogi

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! When you hit play on this, I’ll be two days post-op, resting with two brand new hips (and probably packed in ice and filled with a relaxed euphoria thanks to pain meds). But this short episode was recorded two and a half weeks before surgery — in the thick of it. I was overwhelmed, anxious, and buried under a mountain of insurance call...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, I sit down with Julie Domaratz — Mayor of Fairport, NY, fellow yogi, and proud owner of two titanium hips.  Nine years ago, Julie underwent the exact procedure I’m about to have: a double anterior hip replacement. And let me tell you — her story is a masterclass in self-advocacy, resilience, and hope. Julie shares: 🦴...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! 🎙️ In this keep-it-real episode of The Hip Chronicles , I sit down with my friend and hip hero Wendy Lopez-Swiatek , who just recently had her hip replaced. Wendy is no stranger to putting her body to work—she was a competitive swimmer and field hockey player , and she spent 36 years as a USPS mail carrier . Yep, this woman’s hips have...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! Episode 1: Before the New Hip – Hopes, Fears, and Weird Reactions Welcome to the very first episode of The Hip Chronicles — where I’m documenting my journey through hip replacement surgery with honesty, humor, and a whole lot of curiosity. In this episode, I’m sharing: Why I decided to start this series (hint: it’s not just about the h...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! Ever had a student quietly confess something right before class—“I just had surgery”… “I’ve never done yoga before”… “I can’t get up and down from the floor”… or list off a medical condition you’ve never even heard of? Cue internal freak-out. 😳 In this episode, I share real fears yoga teachers face—especially when we worry we don’t kn...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! Ever felt like you're not yoga-ing hard enough? Like maybe you should be practicing more, eating differently, meditating daily, or have read the entire Yoga Sutras by now? Yeah… me too. In this episode, I get real about the sneaky little voice of yoga guilt —the one that whispers “you should…” whenever life pulls you in a differen...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! Props aren’t crutches—they’re assistants. And guess what? Everyone needs an assistant sometimes. In this episode, I dive into the power of props and how they help us refine, support, and evolve our yoga practice. Using a block, a strap, or a bolster isn’t about taking the easy way out—it’s about making space for what works now . As our...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, I sit down with yoga educator and fellow podcaster Adrianne Jerrett , host of All Mats Taken , a podcast that brings together online yoga teachers to share advice and wisdom on navigating the digital space. We dive into the realities of building an online yoga presence—sharing our wins, challenges, and the lessons we’v...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, I sit down with Lucinda Synder, the inspiring founder of Peak Flow . Lucinda helps college athletes tap into the super power of their minds, enhancing their mental game both on and off the field. As a registered yoga teacher, certified in Mindfulness for Student Athletes, and a Certified Mental Mastery Coach, Lucinda b...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, we sit down with Rita Smith , a yoga instructor, holistic health coach, and cardiac rehab exercise specialist, to explore the power of slowing down. Rita shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with Hashimoto's in her 30s and how it forced her to embrace a slower, more intentional way of living. As a former...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode  MJ Waddell and Terri Orr invite you to join them on their NURTURE & NOURISH RETREAT.   A five-day, four night relaxing adventure on Bald Head Island, NC. Bald Head Island is a two-mile journey across the Cape Fear River from Southport, North Carolina. You can reach this exquisite subtropical island only by passenge...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! Send a voicemail with your question or thought, it might be part of a future episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/Shareyogawithmj In this episode MJ shares research on habits, ambitions and desire to make a change and stick with it. MJ dives into the data of why 92% of people abandon their resolutions within two weeks. She shares the mea...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! Send a voicemail with your question or thought, it might be part of a future episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/Shareyogawithmj In this episode Mj share the joy and the many benefits of practicing yoga with your furry friends. She tributes her two favorite yoga buddies, Sir Benson the cat and Yogi Caler the dog. They have since passed...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode MJ shares tips and resources when you're dealing with a respiratory illness and it's hard to take a deep breath. Yoga is the practice of joining breath, body and mind. When the breath and body are weakened from illness, practicing is put on hold so your miraculous body can heal. She explores the questions: Sho...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode MJ shares times she's had to teach yoga when that's the last thing she wanted to do. She explores the questions: How do we teach during times of personal distress? How do we make our student's feel good, when we feel like shit? How do we navigate different personal and political views while maintaining ou...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode I'll share with you a simple way to start a meditation practice. No need to sit for a long period of time, trust me that will suck if you're new to meditation. Just 10-12 inhales and exhales can do wonders. You start to tame and train you mind. Meditation is just that, you become the tamer and trainer of your...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, I'm the guest! This is my first, off-the-cuff episode. Non-scripted, just a from-the-heart thank you to my teachers, my trainings and my willingness to keep learning and growing. Honestly, the yoga is the easy part as I love my practice and it's ever evolving surprises. The hard part is learning how to share...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode Robin shares her own personal journey from body shaming and disordered eating to becoming a Holistic Nutrition coach and teacher. She understands, first hand, the disconnect that can happen between body and mind. That disconnect led her to yoga, which in turn taught her how to sit with her breath, treat herself compassi...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In a world where parents and children are so busy, practicing yoga with your family provides happy, healthy, quality time together. No tv, no devices or duties, just you and your kids. My guests today, Linda and Kailyn Kehoe, are Mother and Daughter. They've been practicing yoga together since Kailyn was a youngster. Sharing their...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! What if you could harness the healing power of water through yoga? Join me, MJ Waddell, as I sit down with the extraordinary Christa Fairbrother , a trailblazer in the realm of water yoga. From her beginnings as a professional ferrier to her transformative journey into yoga after being diagnosed with arthritis, Christa shares her inspi...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode Danielle shares her yogi flexibility in being able to pivot when the twists, turns and turbulence  of life arrive. Those  pivots haven't diminished her passion for creating and sharing yoga,  only made it sweeter. We talk about the power of feed-back and re-thinking what's next, it's ok, to take a break f...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, MJ talks with Bani Aello about changing course at age 40, shedding some out-dated family and societal expectations, finding your voice, going with the flow and of course staying youthful. Bani Aello is a certified Yoga teacher with over 25 years experience in body work. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2012 t...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, MJ talks with Lisa Maynard about her rewarding career years in the fields of adoption, child welfare and informed trauma-sensitive therapy and yoga instruction and of course staying youthful. Lisa Maynard, LMSW, ACSW, TCTSY-F, a Licensed Master Social Worker, has advanced training and expertise in trauma, attachment an...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, MJ talks with  Amy Warcup about the unexpected challenges of a cancer diagnosis, finding a new creative outlet in belly dancing, and her dedication to healthy living in body and mind and of course staying youthful. Amy is a multi-passionate and healing soul. Among her many titles she is an Assistant Professor of Health...

Send a text and share your thoughts. We want to hear from you! In this episode, MJ talks with "Change Agent" Sue Burden about the challenges of being labeled, her weight journey, taking yoga classes internationally, helping others find acceptance no matter what their age or ability and of course staying youthful. After a 40+ year career as a retail executive, Sue Burden asked herself, &q...