Tanya Fagetan on I Have Arrived, Longevity and Finding Your Balance

A different way to think about longevity

When I sat down with Tanya Fagetan, author of I Have Arrived:

A Journey into Longevity, Love and Purpose, I expected to talk about a book. We did, but our conversation also took us to yoga mats, French castles, publishing, artificial intelligence and the art of wobbling without falling over.  Tanya is a member of the LiteraryWorld community, so you can connect with her directly on the platform.

Tanya’s book brings together personal experience and reflections on family, relationships, connection, purpose and longevity. Her understanding of longevity runs through it all. For Tanya, longevity isn't simply about staying alive longer; it is about staying interested in being alive—remaining curious, engaged and open to new experiences, whatever your age.

She puts that philosophy into practice in her yoga classes, where she asks her students a simple question: what new thing have you tried lately?

A book inspired by the yoga mat

I Have Arrived grew out of Tanya’s own life experiences as well as years of teaching yoga and wellness to people ranging in age from their 50s to their 90s. Through her work, she noticed striking differences in the ways people approached getting older. Those who retained curiosity, movement and a youthful outlook were not necessarily the youngest people in the room. Turning 61 herself brought these observations—and her own experiences of reinvention, caregiving, love and loss—into sharper focus.

The book is also deeply personal. Tanya has experienced professional and personal reinvention, divorce and loss, and spent time caring for her mother. Her yoga practice helped her through these changes, and the book explores what she learnt along the way.

She wrote it in roughly six months, working in the mornings and whenever she could find time around her other commitments. Once she submitted the final manuscript, she was ready for her next project. Making the most of her time is part of her philosophy.

From chair yoga to Tanya’s Yo-Geezers 

What began as a chair yoga class for older adults has grown into a community known as Tanya’s Yo-Geezers. Hundreds of the community’s branded T-shirts are now out in the world, with members sending photographs of themselves, which are displayed on a map dedicated to the Yo-Geezers.

There are opportunities to meet in person, too. Tanya’s plans include:

•         A six-day retreat in the Loire Valley, France, in May, for 12 to 14 people, with Ayurvedic cooking and castle visits.

•         A retreat in Le Marche, Italy, next October.

Her ideas also reach audiences beyond her classes. Tanya told me about a recent speaking engagement where she shared her thoughts on longevity with 45 people. One of her own sources of inspiration is a yoga instructor in France who is 103 years old.

An honest look at publishing

Tanya spoke openly about her publishing experience, including what she would do differently. Her reflections offer writers some useful questions to ask when considering their own publishing options.

She explained that she entered a publishing-services arrangement without fully understanding how different that model would be from the collaborative publishing relationship she had envisioned. The process ultimately required a much greater financial investment than she expected, and additional marketing opportunities came with additional costs. Tanya also actively marketed her book and created its original cover design.

There were positive developments, too. The book became available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and Tanya purchased additional international exposure through a Frankfurt Book Fair display and a 12-month listing on the DropCap rights marketplace. She also recorded her own audiobook. She is now exploring independent publishing as the next stage in taking greater control of her work and its distribution.

Would she take the same route again? No. She would approach publishing differently, with a much clearer understanding of the various publishing models and a greater emphasis on transparency and collaboration. Even so, she recognises that the experience has opened unexpected doors, including the connection that led to our conversation.

Learning to wobble and find your balance

Tanya has little interest in a conventional retirement. She still has projects to pursue, ideas to explore and plenty to learn, including about the publishing industry.

We also discussed artificial intelligence and the value of human creativity when using it. For us, AI can be a useful tool, with people providing the ideas, judgement and direction. I shared another thought: a practical skill alongside a degree, such as teaching yoga or hairdressing, can provide another way to earn during a job search or a quieter period at work.

Her advice for writers was my favourite part of our conversation. Stay connected to the interests and sense of self you had as a child, and keep learning from your experiences and mistakes. She compared it to tree pose: you will wobble, and that is fine. What matters is finding your way back to centre.

On Tanya’s bedside table

Tanya is currently reading:

•         Who Will Cry When You Die? by Robin Sharma

•         Pogo Nip Magic

Find the book

I Have Arrived: A Journey into Longevity, Love and Purpose by Tanya Fagetan is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To learn more about Tanya, her retreats, speaking, classes, and Tanya’s Yo-Geezers—including the community’s around-the-world Tree Pose map—visit her website at www.TanyaFagetan.com

Thank you, Tanya, for a conversation that reminded me how much there is to discover when we stay curious and keep showing up.