Felice Brenner

I was an executive recruiter in Boston, Massachusetts and, when the economy started to tank, business became ten times harder. I was burned out and, with my kids out of college and my husband supportive, I decided to leave. I had worked one or two jobs since I was a teenager and spent a long time being a single parent, but at age 54, this was a leap of faith. I didn’t have a clear picture of what was on the other side.

I had always volunteered at the senior center and attended a presentation there by a Pilates and yoga instructor. She was working at the Veterans Administration medical center, and as I had practiced yoga for many years, I asked if I could come and observe.

It was in the basement of the VA in Jamaica Plain with dirty carpet that smelled like cigarettes. But it really touched me. I began teaching a class once a week focused on breathing and stretches. Within a few months, they asked me to take over the program. I needed to get myself certified and enrolled in a Kripalu Yoga intensive 200-hour training. It’s something I had long dreamed about doing.

I teach people with PTSD and all kinds of physical issues. The group is diverse ethnically and racially, all ages, all genders and transgender. One 60-year old African American woman has been taking the class for three years. I heard from her cardiac doctor that, with her yoga breathing, she is able to bring her blood pressure down.

In my encore, I feel I have something to offer up to people, helping them tap into this alternate mind-body connection and live life to the fullest. But it didn’t take long to realize this was not a viable way to earn a living. I’m making some money and I need to make some money, but I’m extremely grateful that I was in a position to do this financially.

My advice to those considering an encore is not to be fearful about change and taking a risk. You don’t want to be 70 or 80 years old and then say, “I could have, should have.” Trust the things you love, get training or get motivated and something will happen that will lead you to the next thing.