The last three days I have been feeling quite grumpy.
It’s because I am having to come to terms with the age-related adjustments I must make to my yoga practice. As I watch my young teacher bend, bend, bend, my ego is having difficulty accepting that I cannot mimic her without injuring my knees, back or _____ (insert nearly any body part).
Perhaps next week. If only I stretch a little further……..
Last night Mojo and I attended Julio Iglesias’ concert at the Arad Fort. He came to Bahrain as part of The Spring of Culture. Even though I only knew his “All The Girls I Loved Before” duet with Willie Nelson, we both agreed the show was terrific.
The good news was his voice is still strong. And he was still surrounded with young women whose legs sliding out of their evening dresses trounced Angelina Jolie on the red carpet.
HRH King Hamad was impressed too. He presented the 69-year old Spaniard an award for his prolific musical achievements.
I can only imagine Julio must be pretty grumpy today after the local newspaper featured his award on the front page. Why? The photo was taken from his left side.
Based upon his myriad of publicity shots, Julio prefers his right side. Even in his younger days, he entered the stage from the left and sang to his partner so his right side faced the audience. The same was true last night. His three sinewy backup singers all stood on the right side of the stage.
After flying in from a concert in Moscow and two nights outside in the Bahrain winter, I hope today he is resting and not obsessing about the photo. But I know as I watched him carefully execute his choreographed moves, his age was on his mind.
“I am 47 years old” he joked with the audience.
He pretended his water was vodka.
When his saxophonist offered him a scarf, he turned it down, shouting “I feel terrific!”
Wearing only his suit jacket, he sang for an hour and a half while being pelted by an icy desert wind.
Watching him I wondered “at his age, why is he subjecting himself to this?”
Today I went to see my young hairdresser after a two month hiatus. He looked at me and said, “You look great. Have you lost weight?”
“No,” I said thinking a moment. “But I have been immersed in my yoga training since January.”
“I have never exercised. My doctor told me I should do yoga. Everyone says yoga is excellent for you.” He continued, “You look different, better. After seeing how you were walking, I am motivated to find a yoga class for me.”
I was so pleased.
“Yoga is great,” I agreed. And thinking about Julio telling us how his music came from his heart and how much he enjoyed singing to people around the world, I added,
“And always do what you love. That will keep you feeling young.”
Tales of Dragons, Rabbits and Roosters 
Mar 06, 2012 @ 18:40:27
LOL. Great writing. If this is what yoga does for you, keep it up. BTW, while you were hearing 69 year old Julio Iglesias, I heard 69 year old Placido Domingo. Old is good, Eva.
Mar 06, 2012 @ 20:36:34
Or perhaps the moral of the story is I should have been a singer. OLD singers are happy. Thanks.
Mar 06, 2012 @ 19:45:07
I agree… thought Julio’s performance was terrific and oh boy are we ever in need of some entertainment on our poor battered desert isle! The girls looked stunningly gorgeous and who could blame him for wanting to plant a whacking smacker of a kiss on his delectable singers lips! Any man would have easily swapped places.
I have just returned from an awesome yoga class with my wonderful teacher Louise. I will never be able to bend and flex like her due to all my age related ailments but I love trying. She makes me feel a million times better than when I entered my studio to say nothing of the others! There is also an art in teaching. You have to find someone that suits you, is encouraging, adaptable and can multi task throughout a class with people of different levels. No easy feat. Good luck Eva! x
Mar 06, 2012 @ 20:32:01
Ooo You must have seen Julio a different night than me. We did not see any kissing. Although he had many flattering comments when the girls danced.
I hand it to yoga teachers especially those who manage drop-in classes. IF I start teaching I will do the slow class for people like me.
I will have to go to Louise’s class one day. Her schedule conflicts with mine right now. Soon.
Mar 07, 2012 @ 09:48:40
Despite my sable coat, knitted yellow hat, gloves, boots and three layers of clothes I was FROZIIIN at Arad on Sunday night but somehow, the cold didn’t seem as bad after Julio shuffled onto the stage, his legs slightly arthriticky and took up his microphone. It (literally) took him some time to warm up but then Buttercup and I were lost in his voice, despite his sometimes slightly off key crackle and unintelligible interpretations of his various songs. But I liked his humour and his obvious symmetry with his troupe, though the kiss with the bare legged beauty was racy, the tango dancer too too daring and his vodka quip, had me swiftly scan the audience to see if I could spot any wise bearded wonders skulking behind their children to catch yet another ‘Silly’ Cultural Season misdemeanor. But all I could see where happy, laughing, singing, joyful Bahrainis and other nationalities of all creeds who were obviously enjoying the swan song of an old crooner who has brought happiness and love to people all over the world.
Mar 07, 2012 @ 13:57:32
Check out the newspaper to see what the MPs are saying today.
Mar 07, 2012 @ 17:18:51
Amen. Do what you love, the most important aspect of living. Julio may never retire from singing. Tony B hasn’t and he is much older.