Healthy Living: The New 80

The New 80: Barbara Radtke
Shines & Inspires
Camano Island’s Barbara Radtke began to study yoga at age 76, at a time when others might be slowing down. She is living proof of the benefits of positive attitude, sense of humor, and a regular and consistent yoga practice. Barbara and her yoga friends and teachers at Stanwood’s Movement Arts Studio agree on how important it is to engage in more, not less, physical activity as we age. By choosing yoga, she used her smarts to align her bones, engage her muscles, and to become a better breather. She says that she does not know what she would do without her yoga. Each Tuesday and Thursday morning, Barbara attends the all-levels yoga class with Studio Director Kara Keating leading the class. According to Kara, “Here at the studio we all have high respect and appreciation for anyone turning 80, so they get special birthday recognition.” On a recent Tuesday morning Barba was surprised when she sat up after Savasana (relaxation at the end of class) and found a gift basket full of goodies from her fellow yogis. Speechless and surprised, she was then escorted across the street to the Blackbird Café and met by her husband Derald and more friends. Derald, still in love after 60 plus years of marriage, likes to show up with Barbara for yin yoga class each Friday morning, which suits him just fine. A recent bout with a diagnosis of breast cancer gave Barbara a new challenge, which she stepped up to and sailed through treatment with grace, bolstered by the good energy from her friends at the studio. She took a few months off and then promptly returned without missing a beat. Thank you Barbara, for giving us an example of what 80 can look like. – Kara Keating