How to age well: this ‘inspiring’ 93-year-old yoga teacher’s classes are packed every day

Salomon Delgado is one of the hottest yoga instructors in Santa Monica, in the US state of California. He is 93 years old. What? Let me reiterate: in a city obsessed with youth and brimming with lithe fitness instructors in Lululemon outfits and wireless headsets, a 24 Hour Fitness gym has a secret weapon in Delgado. The nonagenarian yogi has been teaching there for 28 years, and his class – which takes place every morning except Sunday – is typically packed. Many of Delgado’s students will only do yoga with him; others have been attending his class for decades. And we are not talking about a niche studio here. This particular 24 Hour Fitness is a flagship location for the health club chain. Having opened in 1996, it is a central hub for exercise enthusiasts, with about 15,000 members. And yoga is a key draw in its programming. “He’s been teaching and perfecting his craft since the ’70s,” says Bilal El-Amin, the club’s general manager. “It’s made him very popular, almost like a yoga guru. You know you’re going to get a teacher who’s experienced and understands the dynamics of yoga. He brings a yoga culture not anyone off the street can bring.” I stopped by Delgado’s class recently. Delgado, who goes by his yoga name, Raghavan Dad, was soft-spoken and unpretentious – a gentle but authoritative presence. He did not demo the yoga moves or even work out with us, but moved around the studio in an oversized black sweatshirt, loose black sweatpants and black trainers, hands clasped under his belly and eyes scanning the floor as he gave instructions. “So good, feel that – you need that,” he cooed. “Straight to the heart.” The class, as Delgado describes it, is a mix of basic sun salutations – a sequence of yoga postures – gentle stretches, balance and coordination exercises, breathwork and elements of meditation. He often reminds attendees to “keep it simple”. While the moves seem basic, the structure of the class is strategically thought out, Delgado says, moving from the floor to standing positions, then back to the floor and ending with a meditative savasana, or resting pose. It is as challenging as participants make it, depending on how deeply they lean into, or how long they hold, their poses. Delgado has also studied kinesiology, physiology and anatomy and has certification in teaching Pilates, aerobics and exercise for seniors. The day I attended, the class of about 30 students was largely composed of women, and most appeared to be of retiree age. But it was noticeably ethnically diverse. The vibe was relaxed and inclusive: a physical education class with your favourite teacher who has been at the school forever. “He’s inspiring, he’s warm and he’s very helpful,” said Erika Fabian, 85, who has been studying with Delgado for more than 25 years. “He’s a total expert at the different movements. If you’re not good enough, he’ll come over and help you out. He cares.” Beware, however. The main rule in Delgado’s class? “Pay attention.” I learned this while following along on my mat, occasionally leaning over to scribble notes – at one point, I caught the teacher’s eye. Delgado respectfully asked me to leave the room, as I was not giving the exercises my full attention. When I said that I was there as a reporter, he allowed me to stay. But the incident provided insight into Delgado’s yoga perspective and world view. “If you’re not paying attention to what you’re doing, you’re missing a great deal; it’s like you were never here,” he told the class at the time. Over coffee several days later, Delgado told me that “paying attention” is a core principle in how he lives his life. “A focused, attentive person is a more relaxed person,” he said. “You have less stress. Stress destroys your nervous system and makes you sick.” Imparting such wisdom during class is key to Delgado’s vision as a yoga teacher. “I tell them a little bit every time,” he says. “Whatever comes to my mind regarding diet, behaviour. Whatever I understand, I give to them.” Delgado grew up in Ecuador in the city of Guayaquil, the eldest of 10 children. He immigrated to Los Angeles with his aunt in 1959 – he was 27 at the time. About six years after arriving in Los Angeles, he married and had a son, though he soon divorced. He worked for nearly a decade as a chef at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, among other places. He went on to study graphic design at Los Angeles City College and Santa Monica College before landing a job as a graphic designer for many years. Ultimately, he and his second wife opened a health food store in Santa Monica called Healthy for You. But the through line for Delgado – one that gave his life purpose – was yoga. He discovered the exercise in his mid-thirties. “There had been this girl I was very interested in, and she was into yoga,” he says. “So I started studying.” In 1972, he attended a teacher training course and became certified as a yoga instructor. He taught in Hollywood after that. Then he opened his own studio. “In order to be away from religious stuff, I called it ‘scientific yoga’, your own mind and body together through your breath,” he says. “I loved it. My intention was to help people. At the same time, I helped myself.” At first glance, Delgado, who has deep smile lines around his mouth and eyes, appears to be in his late seventies, perhaps early eighties. It is shocking to learn he is in his nineties. During our interview, he repeatedly got up from the table to demonstrate his favourite stretches and show off full-body squats. Delgado says he is in very good health but for “bad eyesight” and high blood pressure; he also wears a pacemaker. He recently took leave from work because of illness, but says he is fine now. He does not suffer from chronic pain or stiffness, he says. He still practises yoga every day, though not as vigorously or for as long as when he was younger – usually it is 25 minutes of gentle stretching. So what are his secrets for longevity? Delgado chalks up his health to being a pescatarian – he eats fish but not meat – for 45 years, with a penchant for salmon, avocados, quinoa and garbanzo beans, and prioritising hydration. He also meditates daily and makes sure to get adequate movement every day, in addition to yoga. Over the years, he has gone swimming and biking, and he enjoys walking and dancing at parties. “It’s very important: no matter how old you are, you need to move,” he says. “Or you become totally an invalid. Even the little bones in your hands and feet. Move.” Delgado has no plans to retire any time soon. “I will stop teaching when I am physically unable to do it,” he says. “I need to teach my class. Can you imagine if I lose touch with these people? What am I going to do? Look out there all day and wait for the hearse to come and pick me up?” The joy and purpose he gets from teaching yoga are also factors in healthy ageing, he says. “It’s very important to have something to do that you enjoy. I encourage my seniors who are retired to join an organisation to help others. Because that gives them importance to living.” Before we wrap up our interview, Delgado imparts one last bit of advice: “Hug someone every day,” he says. “Hugging changes your energy. It invigorates you.” To illustrate, he wraps his arms around me in a “grandfather-to-grandchild-like” way and gently squeezes, beaming. Then he throws his arms in the air, fingers spread to the sky, before folding his body downward, his fingers brushing the ground. “See?” he says. “I can still touch my toes!” Deborah Vankin Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.

How to age well: this ‘inspiring’ 93-year-old yoga teacher’s classes are packed every day

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}At 93, yoga teacher Salomon Delgado has no intention of retiring. His secret? Being a pescatarian, meditation and hugging – every day

At 93, yoga teacher Salomon Delgado has no intention of retiring. His secret? Being a pescatarian, meditation and hugging – every day