Episode 18: Polish Family Values - Interview with Mimi Lezanski

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing a friend of mine, Mimi Lezanski.  We became friends because of 2 shared interests:  reading and yoga.

Mimi is soon to be 63 years old.  She has recently retired from her career in education but she isn't slowing down.  She went to Costa Rica and earned her yoga teacher training certification.  She has future plans to learn Sanskrit and to perfect her skill at playing bridge.

She is of Polish descent and follows many of the traditions such as allowing her grandchildren to eat on the couch and cooking with real food rather than eating out of a box.  She describes the Polish tradition of multi-generational households and close family ties.

Her love of physical activity began when she taught aerobics at a Jack LaLanne studio in New Jersey and its grown from there.  Today her activity ranges from walking to tennis.

Her most important advice is to listen to your body.  She was able to quit smoking by listening to the signals that her body was sending her.  She listens to her body when deciding what to eat (and what to avoid eating such as drinking wine at night), when to eat (she typically does not eat anything after 5pm) and what exercise to do.  For example, she continues to play tennis but will limit time spent on the court when she feels pain in her wrist.

Her purpose in life is family.  She was excited to retire from her teaching career so that she could devote more time to her family which includes her husband, two daughters and grandchildren.

Her closing remarks include this gem:  life is not over at age 60 or 70!  Keep living and doing the things that you love but be mindful.

To contact Mimi, use her email:  mmlezanski@gmail.com

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