<div class="" data-article-body="true"><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words"><em>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Barbara Brown, 83, who works as a yoga instructor in Richmond, Virginia. Brown said her work has been fulfilling, given that many of her classes are at </em><a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-elderly-housing-crisis-a-solution-backyard-norcs-retirement-2025-11?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:nursing homes;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas"><em>nursing homes</em></a><em>. Though she needs to work to supplement her </em><a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cant-retire-social-security-working-at-84-financial-struggle-2025-12?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Social Security;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas"><em>Social Security</em></a><em>, Brown said she has no intention of retiring. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.</em></p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I started working after school at the age of 15 and have been working ever since. My family wasn't well-off and needed help, so I took it upon myself to attend college at night and work all day.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">While I was in school, a gentleman from JPMorgan recruited me to work for the company. I began my career as an auditor after earning my degree in accounting.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I spent over 15 years at JPMorgan, and it was a wonderful experience, but it wasn't easy. I then worked at smaller companies as a controller, overseeing accounting operations. I also worked for entertainment companies and startups in New York.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Business Insider's "80-over-80" series draws on interviews with the growing group of Americans working past their 80th birthdays. They discussed their careers, retirement planning, living expenses, healthcare, and life lessons. If you are 80 and older and still work, <a class="link " href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScB-4a6dV6jak2g6t-CoOdxFIENDSZggxHVbvsz6ry4dGoUjg/viewform?usp=sf_link" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:fill out this form;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas"><strong>fill out this form</strong></a><strong> to contribute to the series.</strong></p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Read our <a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-we-learned-from-americas-oldest-workers-80-over-80-2025-11?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:capstone story;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">capstone story</a> from the series and <a class="link " href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=92s&amp;v=tN-6pT7nsx0" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:watch our video;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">watch our video</a>.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I moved to Richmond about 20 years ago. My husband got sick and had a stroke, so we moved here because my son was going to college here. Richmond is very different from New York, but I found a job at a visual arts place, where I stayed for about 10 years until 2009.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words"><a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/social-security-cant-retire-working-at-87-aging-low-wage-2025-12?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:After retiring;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">After retiring</a> from that job, I became a yoga instructor, and I'm still running my business full-time at age 83.</p><figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="Barbara Brown teaches Yoga" loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Vw.1Y4oSA0PpFUsCYULaRA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business_insider_articles_888/8f66994b1cffa24c4b19df5bac583581"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></span></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible">Barbara Brown said she's found her work fulfilling at 83.<span class="copyright">Laura Thompson for BI</span></div></figcaption></figure><h2 class="mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl"><strong>I've always done yoga</strong></h2><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I did so especially when I worked on Wall Street to keep my nerves together. In Richmond, I started doing a lot of yoga while I was working, and it came to a point where I thought I'd like to be a teacher, as I was getting older.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I took my vacation time and spent two weeks at an ashram. I returned six months later to complete my training.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I earned my first certification as a 200-hour yoga teacher and got a job at the Y, where I taught a class during my lunch hour in 2009. I then retired from my full-time job. I distinctly remember my last day, when I boxed everything up and then went to teach my <a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-yoga-tips-longtime-yogi-things-wish-i-knew-2025-2?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:yoga class;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">yoga class</a>. I never really stopped working.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I would travel to cafés to teach seniors, and I taught at studios. I made it my business to teach everywhere and continue to study.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I led yoga retreats, taking people overseas to countries like <a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-abroad-cant-afford-retirement-boomer-social-security-spain-ecuador-2025-2?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Costa Rica;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">Costa Rica</a> and Guatemala. I would teach twice a day, and we would have vegetarian meals. I did that for seven years, in addition to my regular teaching.</p><figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="Barbara Brown" loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ZqGiFqUa.oAR0ze4wePd6g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business_insider_articles_888/1f5405715641176ecb2d4250a18e8559"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></span></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible">Barbara Brown said her classes have had a significant impact on some participants.<span class="copyright">Laura Thompson for BI</span></div></figcaption></figure><h2 class="mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl"><strong>Now, I'm concentrating on teaching at nursing homes</strong></h2><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I have five nursing homes that I travel to, and I'm grateful because it's a great experience for me, as a person <a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/80-over-80-watch-video-read-all-stories-2025?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:over 80;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">over 80</a>, to be in the shape I'm in. I visit several places where people experience memory loss, so I have developed a technique to teach them.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">They love music, so I go in with a drum and get them singing. It's fascinating that people with memory loss often recognize familiar tunes. I can give them a laugh, and even with some loss, they can benefit from yoga.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I teach chair yoga, so I don't have to get down on a mat. I can sit in the chair and demo to the class what needs to be done. I still privately teach one person on the mat who comes to my house.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">There's a woman who never moves, and they put her in my class, and I looked over and saw her moving her hands and feet. It's a truly rewarding experience to see that I'm making a positive impact on people's lives.</p><figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="Barbara Brown" loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/YaZLRo.cCO851M4pJvX9Ww--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business_insider_articles_888/9ef351386400dc0cb0dc009f7c3feb03"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></span></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible">Barbara Brown said she has prioritized her health in her later years.<span class="copyright">Laura Thompson for BI</span></div></figcaption></figure><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I can also work with <a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-impact-jobs-youth-unemployment-hiring-freeze-uncertainty-tariffs-2025-12?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:young people;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">young people</a> — I can work with anybody. It's just that I couldn't work with young people constantly because I'd have to be on the mat, and that would be too much for my body, so this works for me.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I'm not like the average yoga teacher. I've handled all the finances for my business and haven't asked anyone for help. I hope to continue teaching for as long as possible.</p><h2 class="mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl"><strong>I'm also a vegan, and I follow a very strict diet</strong></h2><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I've been vegan for over 35 years. It isn't very expensive to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, and I don't eat a lot. Seeing so many people in the conditions that they're in, many of whom are younger than me, I wish a lot of them would eat a better diet.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I don't take any medications. At my last physical, I was told my <a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/c-section-hospital-rates-differences-data-analysis-2025-12?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:vital statistics;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">vital statistics</a> put me at age 40. I don't feel old. When I went to the chiropractor, one of the staff members asked me how old I was. I said, I'm not going to tell you, because then you put me in a range.</p><h2 class="mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl"><strong>I'm not working just for the money because I really love it, but I need the money to help me financially</strong></h2><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I work to <a class="link " href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cant-retire-still-working-retirement-age-social-security-inflation-health-2025-4?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:supplement my Social Security;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas">supplement my Social Security</a>, which would not be enough on its own.</p><figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="Barbara Brown" loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/tepSlo8mFCfesS6gO9k.9w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business_insider_articles_888/dba1c62fd372c843a5de2a08b45f7c87"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></span></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible">Barbara Brown said her work helps her financially.<span class="copyright">Laura Thompson for BI</span></div></figcaption></figure><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">I bought a house to rent out, but when COVID-19 broke out, the renters didn't pay me for seven months. I'm still paying back my credit cards. I also have a mortgage on my own home.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Becoming a yoga teacher is also extremely expensive. I could have never done it now. It costs around $10,000 to start, and then you have to keep up with ongoing learning. Even yoga clothes are expensive, and it's a very upscale activity.</p><h2 class="mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl">I have a son and three grandkids</h2><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">My schedule is so busy that I'm not a typical grandmother. I'm not baking cookies and cooking for my grandkids, though I do see them often. Once I finish teaching, I rest, because it is a lot of energy, especially for an older body. I do some breath work when I come home.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Everybody has had challenges of all kinds. Losing my husband and my mother was very hard. I stay in the moment, not looking back or regretting. My time is spent creating. What can I do now to create a better life and to help others have a better life?</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-working-past-80-social-security-yoga-teacher-2025-12" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Business Insider;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Business Insider</a></p></div>

Barbara Brown, 83, works as a yoga instructor at nursing homes in Richmond, Virginia. She said her work has been fulfilling, though she needs to work.

I'm an 83-year-old yoga instructor. I'm not your typical grandma — I still work to feel fulfilled and supplement my Social Security.

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