My Story

Pete Kelley

Head and Shoulders picture of of Pete, a white haired older man wearing glasses.

I’m Pete – sometimes the voice on the reception desk phone, as well as a trustee – and I’m now in my 70s.


When I was approaching retirement, I began to see it as a gift: a time in life when I could finally explore the things I’d never had the chance to before. That perspective has made all the difference.


Back in 2015, I took up yoga with a wonderful teacher, Karunachitta, at Norwich Buddhist Centre. I quickly discovered that yoga isn’t just about flexibility. It has improved my core and upper-body strength and shown me that it’s possible to keep building strength even in your late 60s and beyond.


A guiding principle of yoga is to be kind to your body, not a tyrant. That idea has shaped the way I approach getting more active in general. Don’t force it. Small, consistent changes really do add up.

My current yoga challenge is to manage a headstand without support. It’s ambitious, requiring shoulder flexibility and arm strength, but the steady progress keeps me motivated.

Man in headstand, using two chairs for support, against a white wall. He wears red shorts and a blue-striped shirt.

Alongside yoga, I’ve been working on adding more movement into my daily life. To ease back into running at 70, I started with vigorous walking. For many, even a few minutes of walking is a big step, and that’s something worth celebrating. Success looks different for everyone – whether it’s walking round the block or tackling a local park.


For me, 40 minutes of “power walking” is now a regular routine. It leaves me feeling energised, has noticeably improved my breathing, and even helped reduce my waistline – an unexpected but welcome bonus. It’s also supporting my yoga practice.

The key lesson is patience. Don’t expect overnight results. Instead, enjoy the process of moving more, and let the results come as a bonus. Personally, I get fresh air, a bit of exercise, and the pleasure of meeting plenty of friendly dogs along the way. That, in itself, feels priceless.


I’ve also rediscovered the joy of cycling as my main way of getting around the city. Even a short break from the bike reminds me how much difference it makes to my energy and wellbeing.


And keeping active isn’t only about the body. I’ve challenged myself mentally too. I’m now four years into learning Spanish with another great teacher, Tamara, at Wensum Lodge, and I’ve taken up a three-year course in Buddhism – something I’d always been curious about but never had the time for before.


Retirement has given me the space to try these things. The truth is, whatever your limitations – physical or financial – extraordinary things become possible if you start small and keep going.


For me, that has meant running my first ever 10k, building strength through yoga, and learning a new language. For you, it might mean something completely different.


The real challenge is simply to begin.


So – what have you always wanted to try, but never felt you had the time for?