Northern beaches: Yoga's bringing the benefits for Mick Griffin

Forget the saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, this 91-year-old has recently discovered yoga and credits it with giving him more flexibility and stamina.

Mr Griffin has been a member of Freshwater Surf Club for as long as many people can remember. Not only did he compete in surf sports, but he held various positions at the club, and in 2008 was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to surf life saving.

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Earlier this year, he had headed down to his beloved club to check out the surf and have a chat to whoever was around, and that's where he met yoga instructor Sasha Hawley.

She teaches yoga at the club and invited him to come along and try it out. He did and now he's a regular at the club's twice-weekly sessions.

"I used to come and sit on the verandah and watch the surf because I can't get down to the water anymore," Mr Griffin said. "She asked me to come along and said 'it mightn't do you any good, but it won't do you any harm'. I thought why not.

"After starting yoga I'm now walking three times as far as I used to be able to."

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Mr Griffin mightn't be at the downward dog stage yet, but he's getting better with every session.

"I can't do everything they do, I can't balance as well now I'm getting older," he said. "I'm pretty healthy for my age. I've had three heart attacks and one stroke, but I've come through them ok."

During his competition days in march past, and R&R (rescue and resuscitation) Mr Griffin was awarded eight Australian titles.

Freshwater Beach is also the place where he had his first date with Marie Collins who he would later marry. The couple were married for 67 years until she died in 2018. The couple's daughter Debbie was also married at Freshwater Beach.

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