Ayurveda Article - Ways to Age Gracefully

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Four Ways to Age Gracefully

 

Maybe we can't stop the clock, but we can keep our bodies, minds

and emotions in good shape as we age.

"One of the factors that plays a major role in aging is ama," says

Vaidya Mishra, director of Product Development at Maharishi Ayurveda

Products International. Ama refers to the impurities that accumulate

due to poor

digestion or eating the wrong foods. Ama blocks the channels that

supply nutrient fluid

to the cells, eventually leading to disease. But mental ama is an

even more important

factor. "Aging starts with the mind, not the body," says Vaidya

Mishra. "Aging begins when

mental ama accumulates in the mental channels, disturbing the

coordination

between dhi, dhriti, and smriti (acquisition, retention, and recall ).

Then problems such as memory loss start to surface."

 

Another aspect of aging is simply the time of life. As you round

the corner to your golden 50s, you start transitioning from the Pitta

stage

of life to the Vata time. The dry, moving, and irregular Vata dosha

dominates, and can cause typical problems of aging, such as dry skin,

irregular digestion, and insomnia.

 

So the battle against aging has several facets: removing mental

and physical ama and balancing Vata dosha. Here are four ways to age

gracefully.

 

 

1. Start with a Youthful Mind

 

Many people think that losing memory is just part of growing old.

But without ama, mental faculties actually become more coordinated

with age

rather than deteriorating.

 

What causes mental ama? Wrong behavior creates mental ama and

breaks down the coordination between dhi, dhriti and smriti

(acquisition,

retention and recall).

 

"Following the traditional Ayurvedic behaviors, called Achara

Rasayana , prevents mental ama," says Vaidya Mishra. (The word

Achara

means "behavior," and Rasayana usually refers to refined herbal

compounds

that promote longevity, but in this case, refers to behaviors that

promote

longevity). Behavioral Rasayana actually nourishes the body and

creates

ojas, the finest product of digestion that supports clarity of

thinking,

mind-body coordination, and ideal health.

 

These positive behaviors include truthfulness, nonviolence,

calmness, sweet speech, cleanliness, charitableness, freedom from

anger,

control of the senses, balance in sleep and wakefulness, not exerting

to the point of exhaustion,

and respect towards teachers, preceptors and elders.

 

"Of course, it's difficult to follow Behavioral Rasayanas

perfectly," points out Vaidya Mishra. "That's why the practice of the

Transcendental Meditation ® technique is important. It removes the

stress

that keeps you from following right behavior, and is the most

effective

way to dissolve mental ama."

 

Yoga asanas and breathing exercises, such as pranayama, also clear

mental ama. Deep breathing while exercising also supplies oxygen to

the

brain cells, rejuvenating tired cells and preventing unwanted damage.

 

 

2. Take Herbal Supplements for the Mind

 

Vaidya Mishra recommends Youthful Mind to improve acquisition,

retention and recall. This ancient ayurvedic formula is in a special

class

of herbal preparations, called Medhya Rasayana, or that which is good

for

the intellect . Ancient Ayurvedic texts describe Aloeweed

(Shankapushpi)

as the foremost herb for developing mental functioning.

 

Youthful Mind also contains two other herbs with Medhya Rasayana

effect: Heart-leaved Moonseed (Guduchi) and Herpestis Monniera

(Brahmi).

Modern research validates that these two herbs help enhance memory,

and keep the mind young.

If you are experiencing mental fatigue, take Worry Free tablets and

Tea along with Youthful Mind to remove mental stress and prevent

memory

loss as you age. Research on Worry Free tablets, conducted at the

University

of California in San Diego, showed that Worry Free is effective in

reducing anxiety and levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with

stress.

It is highly effective in treating sleep disorders related to an

imbalance in Vata dosha.

"I also recommend Maharishi Amrit Kalash, the king of all

rasayanas, to dissolve mental and physical ama and increase ojas,"

says

Vaidya Mishra. "It is essential as we age."

 

3. Clean up Your Diet

 

"Due to the onset of the Vata time of life, appetite and digestion

often becomes less reliable in later years," says Vaidya Mishra. "The

chances of creating ama are greater, so that is why a light, warm,

nutritious diet, full of nature's intelligence, is essential for the

Vata

time of life."

 

He advises staying away from preserved, canned, dead or frozen

foods, as these create ama. A diet of fresh fruits and vegetables,

light

dairy products, legumes, and whole grains such as quinoa--which

contains

carbohydrates, protein and zinc--provides much more intelligence and

vitality.

 

For a healthy mind, Vaidya Mishra recommends nourishing foods such

as walnuts, raw coconut chutney, milk-mango shake, and milk-date

shake,

because these enhance ojas.

 

4. Balance Your Routine

 

To balance Vata dosha, keep a regular ayurvedic routine. Going to

bed at different times, too little sleep and irregular mealtimes

aggravate Vata dosha. Go to bed before ten, rise before six, eat

your main

meal at noon, and eat three meals at regular times every day. Taking

breaks when you're tired and practicing Yoga asanas, pranayama, and

meditation are all essential for managing stress and calming Vata.

"Abhyanga (ayurvedic massage) is one of the best Vata-pacifying

tips," says Vaidya Mishra. He recommends Rejuvenation Oil for Men or

Women.

The main idea is to avoid creating ama, because once it spreads and

goes deep into the tissues it can create disease. "If you are ama-

free,

you can almost become free of aging altogether," says Vaidya Mishra.

"You'll have enough ojas in the body and mind to make less mistakes

and

grow toward enlightenment--and enjoy success, bliss and satisfaction

in

life.

 

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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