Today’s reality requires you to learn fast, adapt, endure, and welcome the unexpected. So, how flexible are you, physically, mentally, and practically? Let’s get our stretch on.

For the past year and a half I’ve been regularly practicing hot yoga at an excellent studio near my home. And the many benefits have been profound: Improved range of motion, stronger joints, reduced pain, increased focus, peace and, of course, flexibility.

I just turned 56, and as someone who remains agile and acrobatic, this relationship between strength and flexibility is super important. And the same is true for you. The tendency as we age is to become more rigid, not just physically but also in our thinking and responses. So here are three ways in which you can stay stronger for longer by increasing your flexibility.

1. Beginner’s Mind –  Resist the trap of expertise and realize the more you learn, the more you can learn. Our human minds will never fully grasp life’s mysteries and complexities. So strive to remain curious and humble, incorporating new information and others’ viewpoints to continually expand your own.

2. Fluid Body – Stay hydrated and move with flow.  Stretch your muscles. Open up your joints. Get on the path to greater physical agility. And you can only begin where you are. So start small, and let your progress fuel your practice.

3. Another Way – Instead of finding THE way to do a job, solve a problem, or see the world, recognize there are likely multiple right answers. A new view or another way doesn’t threaten or diminish you. It strengthens you by expanding your understanding and options.

Yoga may not be your thing, but it might. Or, perhaps, you’ll find your own path to flexibility by cultivating a beginner’s mind, practicing physical disciplines, and discovering abundant right answers. So until next week, keep stretching, and stay Off Balance On Purpose.

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