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| Bates, 91, leads her weekly yoga class. Photo: Matt May/Guinness World Records |
Where Do You See Yourself in 50 Years?
What were you doing 50 years ago? Perhaps you were buying your first Elvis record, or following JFK on the campaign trail.
Were you even born yet? Odds are, whatever you were up to back in 1960, you've probably moved on to something else.
Not Bernice Bates. Fifty-one years ago, Bernice started teaching yoga as supplemental training for a swim team she coached. Today, at the ripe-young-age of 91, she's doing something that many would say is truly unique.
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A St. Petersburg, FL, resident (and proud AAA member), Bates is still a practicing yoga instructor—in fact, she's the oldest in the world. The designation as "World's Oldest Yoga Instructor" was officially bestowed upon Bates on Nov. 17 as a part of Guinness World Records Day 2011
Since then, her story has brought her much acclaim and attention from around the world. A humble Bates, who's spent much of the last 50 years in various yoga poses, now finds herself posing in the national spotlight.
"I'm so thankful for the interest. I've had an opportunity to meet all sorts of important people through all of this," Bates gratefully explained.
Despite taking center stage, Bates has gone about business as usual. She continues to teach her weekly yoga class, leading stretches and poses that even many twenty-something-year-olds couldn't pull off.
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| Bates demonstrates a perfect "boat" pose. Photo: Matt May/Guinness World Records |
Her story is one of achievement and inspiration, but it isn't without its fair share of trials and tribulations. When she first started instructing, yoga wasn't nearly as widely accepted in America as it is these days. In fact, some viewed it as a rather radical and unorthodox practice. Bates explained that people used to see yoga primarily as a Hindu practice rather than an exercise. Despite those misconceptions and dismissive reactions, she continued to practice and teach her passion.
Bates' "can't stop—won't stop" attitude is second nature. Her direction and executions are very methodical, and there's a certain calming peacefulness that comes over you when you speak to her—a mantra to which her craft has undeniably contributed.
Although she's reached this pinnacle, Bates shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. She maintains that as long as she's able to physically practice and teach yoga, she'll continue to do so. It's the perfect explanation to a story that is nothing short of ama-Zen.