The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES - Villagers in the quiet room of The Villages Wellness Center erupted in applause and adoring admiration Tuesday while watching their petite yoga teacher perform some impressive poses.

The students aspire to do the same. They want to be as flexible, limber and as fit as Adela Choquet, their beloved yoga instructor, who will turn 90 on Monday.

Choquet is the first to admit she never expected this - to be living a life of longevity and good health.

"I really feel good," said the Chilean native, who moved to The Villages 10 years ago with her husband, Robert. "I am really surprised that I am the way that I am. It's yoga. It's all because of yoga."

She also believes it's never too late for others to reap the same benefits of the exercise that focuses on the body, mind and spirit.

"It's relaxing," Choquet said, adding that she loves seeing her students become calm in class. "They forget everything they have to do; they close their minds from thinking. It's wonderful, and within 10 minutes their problems disappear."

Choquet was 55 when she tried yoga for the first time in Miami, after some encouragement from a friend. In her first class filled with young students, Choquet recalled that she felt out of place.

"I was thinking, 'What am I doing here?' After three hours, I was hooked on yoga," she said.

Choquet smiles.

"Yoga is addictive," she said, adding she's still hooked, teaching a total of 10 hours of classes every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at the Wellness Center, and she loves seeing how yoga makes a difference in her students' lives.

She has been teaching yoga for 35 years, the past six at The Villages Wellness Center, starting right after the center opened its doors.

Students in the class are quick to point out that it's Choquet who motivates them most.

"Everyone in Adela's class adores her. We are so in awe of her, and she is an inspiration and we just look up to her," Joan Salvadore said. "Adela is just the greatest."

John Ruhsenberger agreed.

"Adela is just fantastic," said Ruhsenberger, who has been Choquet's student for nearly five years "She's a wonderful lady, and it's unbelievable the things she still does as she approaches her 90th birthday. It tells me to continue to work with this because I can see the results she has gotten, and I'm hoping for the same."

Marsha Shearer said she has noticed that her balance, coordination and flexibility have improved since studying yoga with Choquet.

"I had been working out with the gym equipment for three or four years, but I never saw a change in my body until I started taking yoga," Shearer said, adding she found the yoga poses great for toning the body.

"Adela is an inspiration, and she's so special," Shearer said. "And she's tough. She wants you in those poses accurately, and if you don't have it just right, she'll come over and move you until it's accurate. She is a superb human being and we all love her."

Marge Adams also expressed her admiration for her yoga teacher.

"She's a wonder, and I hope I look like her when I get to be 90. She's a great mentor," said Adams, who has been taking yoga for one and a half years. "Adela has done a lot for me."

Choquet said she intends to continue teaching yoga for as long as she can.

"Until the Lord says it's time to say, 'Goodbye,' she said. "Until then. ... "

Theresa Campbell is senior features writer with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9260, or theresa.campbell@thevillagesmedia.com.