83-Year-Old Yoga Instructor Still Working to Supplement Income

At 83 years old, Barbara Brown maintains a full-time career as a yoga instructor in Richmond, Virginia. She teaches chair yoga at five nursing homes, working to supplement her Social Security income while finding fulfillment in helping others.

Brown began her career at age 15 and spent over 15 years working as an auditor at JPMorgan after earning her accounting degree. She moved to Richmond 20 years ago when her husband suffered a stroke. After retiring from a visual arts position in 2009, she transitioned to teaching yoga, a practice she used for stress management during her Wall Street career.

Despite facing financial challenges including pandemic-related rental losses and credit card debt, Brown continues teaching because she loves the work and needs the income. She follows a strict vegan diet and reports health statistics comparable to someone decades younger.

Barbara Brown began working at age 15 to help her family. She attended college at night while working all day. A JPMorgan recruiter recruited her while she was in school, and she began her career as an auditor after earning her degree in accounting.

She spent over 15 years at JPMorgan, describing it as a wonderful but difficult experience. After leaving the bank, Brown worked as a controller at smaller companies, overseeing accounting operations. She also worked for entertainment companies and startups in New York.

Brown moved to Richmond approximately 20 years ago after her husband suffered a stroke. They relocated because her son was attending college in the area. She found work at a visual arts facility, where she remained for about 10 years until 2009.

Throughout her Wall Street career, Brown practiced yoga to manage her nerves. In Richmond, she intensified her practice and decided to become an instructor as she aged. She spent two weeks at an ashram during vacation time, then returned six months later to complete her training.

She earned her first 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2009 and immediately began teaching a class during her lunch hour at the Y. She retired from her full-time visual arts job on the same day she started teaching yoga professionally.

Currently, Brown concentrates on teaching at five nursing homes in the Richmond area. She considers it a privilege to be in good physical condition as a person over 80. Her classes specifically target residents experiencing memory loss.

Brown developed a specialized technique for teaching students with cognitive impairments. She brings a drum to class and encourages singing, as residents with memory loss often recognize familiar tunes. She explains that music helps create a positive atmosphere where even those with significant memory loss can benefit from yoga.

She teaches chair yoga, which allows her to demonstrate movements while seated. This format eliminates the need to get down on a mat, making it accessible for both instructor and students. Brown still privately teaches one student at her home who practices on a mat.

Brown shared a specific success story: "There's a woman who never moves, and they put her in my class, and I looked over and saw her moving her hands and feet." She describes these moments as truly rewarding, confirming she is making a positive impact on people's lives.

Brown works to supplement her Social Security income, which she says would be insufficient on its own. "I'm not working just for the money because I really love it, but I need the money to help me financially," she stated. Her work provides necessary financial support.

She faces significant financial obligations. Brown purchased a house to rent out, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, tenants failed to pay rent for seven months. She is still paying back credit card debt and carries a mortgage on her own home. Additionally, becoming a yoga teacher was expensive, costing approximately $10,000 to start, plus ongoing education costs and expensive clothing.

Brown maintains strict health practices. She has been a vegan for over 35 years and follows a very strict diet. She notes that fresh fruit and vegetables are not very expensive and that she doesn't eat much. She wishes more people would eat better diets after seeing many younger people in poor health conditions.

She takes no medications. At her last physical, she was told her vital statistics were comparable to a 40-year-old. When a chiropractor's staff member asked her age, she refused to answer, saying, "I'm not going to tell you, because then you put me in a range." She does not feel old.

Brown has a son and three grandchildren, but her busy schedule means she is not a typical grandmother. She does not bake cookies or cook for her grandchildren, though she sees them often. After teaching, she rests because the work requires significant energy, especially for an older body. She practices breath work when she returns home.

She has handled all business finances independently and has never asked for help. Brown hopes to continue teaching for as long as possible. She can work with people of all ages, though she notes that working constantly with young people would be too physically demanding because it requires being on the mat.

Regarding life challenges, Brown acknowledges that "Everybody has had challenges of all kinds." She cites losing her husband and mother as very difficult experiences. Her approach to life focuses on staying in the moment without looking back or regretting. She spends her time creating and asking what she can do now to improve her life and help others.