16 Tips For A Graceful Ageing: Be Young At 60

Ageing is a demon which is manifested in the body but is felt by the mind very early. Ageing is a ‘principle of creation’ and is a must for everyone. We don’t control it. But we can age gracefully by accepting that ageing is not a disease but a stage of life. 

Two Mechanisms of Aging

Two main processes involved in aging
Dr JV Hebbar 
As we reach our 50s and 60s, two main processes happen in our cells and tissues. 
1. Cells lose their real nature. Cells start forgetting what they actually looked like. The information in the genes is altered. This leads to some cells duplicating into different types of cells. For example, cells responsible for hair health, forget the natural colour of hair and thus hair starts turning grey, Cells of the skin start behaving differently, thus a person may start seeing new moles. Some parts of the body lose hair and some parts of the body may start getting new hair etc. 

2. Cells and tissues start becoming weak. Bones and muscles start losing mass, resulting in arthritis, muscle pain, weakness etc. Internal organs such as the liver, pancreas, brain, stomach become weak etc. 

The solution to these problems is: 
Do not wait for these symptoms to appear. 
Undergo seasonal Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatment so that regular detoxification keeps all the tissues active and healthy 
Rejuvenating and anti aging therapies after undergoing Panchakarma so as to energize weakened tissues and organs 
Disciplined lifestyle with regular oil massage, sweating therapy, healthy eating, meditation, good night sleep. 
Challenging mind, brain and body while avoiding excessive mental and physical stress.  

Graceful aging

By Ms Carol Hardin.

Aging is inevitable. As the youthful years descend, the shadow of misery and pain of old age starts taking toll on the mind. The most visible signs of aging are the ones that appear on your face. Live long and look attractive is what almost everybody desires. So why not make aging a happy and graceful experience and wear on the youthful look!

Look youthful- Everybody wants to know the secrets of a forever young beauty. Nonetheless, one’s favorite on screen stars appeal and attractiveness even much beyond their ages is a motivating force behind it. Is it really possible to possess that tight, flawless complexion even through the aging years? The answer is splendidly a yes! It just takes a few simple tips and tricks to keep those ugly wrinkles away.

The first and foremost thing that you have to do is- have a daily skincare regime for yourself. There is no fixed time when those awful lines and spots might appear on your face, so a proper skin care regime should start as early as possible; without waiting for appearance of aging signs. Many factors cause skin to show fine lines & spots untimely, even in early twenties.

Useful tips

1)Well-Balanced Eating: Consumption of a well balanced diet with intake of fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis.

2) Physical Workout: Exercises and physical activity is essential to stay fit. Experts say that aerobic exercises slow down aging process.

3) Intake of Antioxidants: Antioxidants are helpful in neutralizing the effect that free radicals have in the aging process.

4) Use Natural Anti Aging Agents: Many natural substances contribute to anti aging because of their essential properties. One such natural anti aging agent is Coconut oil. Consume 3 – 4 tbsp daily or massage it onto your skin before bathing for a forever young appearance.

5) Effective Sun Block Application: Before moving out in the sun, it is necessary to dab on a sunscreen with good SPF formula. The harmful rays of the sun can damage the skin on cloudy days as well.

6) Moisturizing: Skin looks healthy and supple if it is nourished well with the right amount of moisture. Winds, especially during fall and winters, steal the skin’s moisture. So, a change in season should be complimented by a change in skin care products as well.

7) Use Skin Cream: If those aging signs already have you in their grip, use a good anti aging cream to get rid of them.

These are some basic tips that can help you age beautifully, youthfully and gracefully. Here is a beautiful line written by Françoise Sagan that interrelate beauty & aging in the most incredible manner, “There is a certain age when a woman must be beautiful to be loved, and then there comes a time when she must be loved to be beautiful.”

Reverse mental aging

How to reverse mental aging?
Dr JV Hebbar
Many people, with a rough life start aging mentally very early in their lives. We see many sports team captains; presidents of countries start growing rapidly after being at the help for a couple of years.
There are many ways in which to avoid early mental aging.
Having a disciplined life, decreasing alcohol, smoking,
following celibacy, waking up early in the morning, fasting once or twice a month,
including a teaspoon of ghee and coconut in diet
having wholesome diet, with variety of fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes and pulses,|
exercising for at least 20 minutes a day,
Yoga, pranayama, religious and spiritual practices etc.,
regular habit of reading books, biographies, learning new things such as new recipes, language, computer, technology, etc.
Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Shankhapushpi, Gotu kola etc. are useful.

Panchakarma therapy, massage, sauna etc. therapies, Ayurvedic Rasayana therapies with medicines such as Chyawanprash, Medhya Rasayana etc. help to stop and reverse mental and physical aging.
Read more about Rasayana therapy

How to know one is mentally aging rapidly?
“I know enough”
“I do not need new learning”
“What I have is enough”
“This new technology is interesting, but not for me”
Take an example of a 55-year-old woman who wastes a lot of her time chopping vegetables in her kitchen. Her son gives her an electric vegetable chopper. The woman thinks the chopper is too complicated and does not use it although it is just a matter of pushing a button. 

A person in the 60s hesitates to operate a smartphone.

If the hesitancy comes with an underlying illness, then that is understandable, but some people in their 50s and 60s think “I have raised a good family, all children are settled, so I do not have anything to achieve, so I will completely retire”

With anti-aging science rapidly becoming popular, such a person still has 30-40 years ahead to live. So, what he knows, what he has achieved already might not be enough in the long term.

In most people, rapid mental aging accelerates physical aging and causes the person to die early.

As long as you are open to learning new things, you are doing just fine. Do not let go of the habit of learning new things. Be curious, be adaptive.  

Remedies

Few useful remedies for daily use:
Triphala churna – 1 teaspoon at night after food with water, especially if you are prone to constipation. It is an excellent anti oxidant and anti ageing product. Good to use for long term.

Amla churna – 1 teaspoon at night after food. If you do not have constipation but still you want to enjoy anti oxidants, this is a very good choice. Good for long term use.

Ashwagandha churna or tablet – 3 grams (half a teaspoon) or 1 tablet at night after food. Useful if there is sleep problems and muscle weakness. May cause stomach disturbance in some. Well tolerated by most people.

Brahmi churna or capsule –  3 grams (half a teaspoon) or 1 tablet at night after food. Useful to have a sharp memory and concentration. Also useful in sleep.

Chyawanprash or Brahma Rasayana – 1 teaspoon in the morning, with milk or water, before food for overall anti ageing Rasayana effect. Diabetic people may seek doctor’s advice before taking it.

Mahanarayana taila – Massage whole body with this oil at least twice a week, 30 minutes before bath.

Ayurveda

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
The paradises of future life are collapsed and many wars lost when the thought of ‘getting aged’ creeps in the mind. It is an insect which bites the mind every moment. Some may be cautious towards ageing and take many preventive steps to avoid problems arising in the old age. Some may live a carefree life or rather a careless life and think about the problems as and when they arrive. Some may live in fear. But the body and mind will age. Ageing waits for none.

Vaya Sandhi

Vaya Sandhi and the Art of Graceful Ageing
Ayurveda has given a beautiful concept of Rutu Sandhi or ‘measures to be taken during the junctional period of 2 seasons’. This includes ‘letting go’ the practices of the previous season (in the last few days of that particular season) and ‘gradually inculcating the practices of the upcoming season’ so as to prepare to meet the coming season. The measures and practices include diet and lifestyle changes and methods of seasonal adaptation.

Similarly, every decade of the man can be considered as a Rutu or season. Here I present a concept ‘Vaya Sandhi’ or junction of 2 decades of ageing process. Just like in Rutu Sandhi, every person shall either train him-self or her-self or trained by the doctor to meet the coming decade in the ageing process with pride and joy.
Read related: 16 Lifestyle Changes Required After You Reach 30 (Your younger years are over. Let’s Face it!)

Planning of Vaya Sandhi

How to plan the Vaya Sandhi?
Block the ageing process in the mind –
As I already said, the mind prepares you for ageing. The preparation may be in a constructive or destructive way, depends on what type of mental constitution you possess and what type of thought process you are habituated to.

Remedy – You need to accept that ageing is inevitable and try to see it as a natural process. Any fears arising in the mind shall be suppressed and one should motivate them-selves in a positive way. You need to meet the ageing process with pride, not with envy or trained to do so. ‘I have enjoyed the previous episode of my lifespan and I shall do it better in the next decade too’ should be the ideology.
Read related: 10 Exercise Tips To Get Fit Over 40

The Retirement Syndrome –
The Vanaprastha Ashrama or Retired Life is the most difficult one to tackle. By the time you retire from your work and settle back at your home, the fears of ‘how do I do from tomorrow, what do I do from tomorrow?’ would have occupied your mind. Along with this comes the fear of rejection, being presented with the ‘manual of restrictions’ by the caretakers, who are often your children. If you are away from your children, the fears are more. You suddenly start feeling helpless, ageing, lost and defeated. You imagine all the health issues which you would face in future.

Remedy – The Retirement shall be seen as a gift to ‘reboot-and-re-live’ from the beginning. From 2 years before retirement plan and prepare a ready reckoner, if possible with your life partner or doctor or friend about ‘what to do after retirement?’. You have done everything for your children and dependants, you never had to live for your-self, and you have compromised and sacrificed a lot of dreams all these years. Now is the chance to plan to satisfy and make real all your unfulfilled dreams.

Positive mindset

Have a positive thought processing and take preventive measures –
If you are a person who thinks negatively, you start visualizing ageing process in your mind and will find yourself in a helpless condition when you start looking into the future. Example, when you have mild to moderate joint pains or back pain you will visualize yourself to be helplessly bed ridden in future rather than searching or seeking remedies for it.

If your mindset is positive one, you will try to take precautions so as to avoid the ‘ageing related health issues’ in future by taking suitable preventive measures. Example, when you feel your joints are giving way and may trouble you in future, you will seek the doctor’s opinion regarding preventing the ‘joint disorders’ in future and will be ready to do whatever the doctor tells you to do.

Remedy – Positive visualization is the best remedy. See your-self jogging and cycling in the next decade rather than seeing self on a bed and prepare your next decade accordingly.

Identification of your weaker areas and addressing them –
Each of you has a weaker area, more specific of self. The site of regular manifestation of a health related problem in your body is the weak or susceptible area. The health issue you are facing regularly is your constant enemy. Don’t try to live with it. Try and figure out the worst problems you have been facing through the length of the past few decades. Some of you may have a constant backache, some a sensitive stomach, some others an early morning headache and some may have cough and cold in every winter. Make a note of these problems. They may visit you regularly even in your old age and trouble you.

Remedy – Present your susceptible problems to your doctor and seek remedies for the same. Addressing these issues in the earlier decades will make living in your successive decades easier.

Have a systematic approach towards your diet and lifestyle as you age –
You may not tolerate or digest the same foods which you are easily doing it in this decade. Identify sensitive and reactive foods. Similarly make a list of foods which are compatible with you. Plan your diet for future decade including the quality and quantity of food with the help of a dietician or doctor.

Similarly you cannot do the same activities with same energy and enthusiasm in the coming decade of your age. Plan the quality and quantity of activities for your future so as to blend with your age at the given decade.

Have a good control over your untoward or high-end emotions, keep away the stress and have good sleep –
Ageing comes with lot of tensions, worries, insecurities and high-end reactions. You tend to be over-reactive or under-reactive. Both are not good. Venting off the emotions are good, at the same time holding on to the untoward reactions are also good. The priorities matter. You will have a lot of time at your retirement so as to find all your family members at your disposal. You will get lot of time to point at others mistakes and give lectures. These things will go to unnecessary debates, battles and stress. Stress is not good at old age. As such there is a lot of degeneration going on in the old age, the stress will add to worsen it.

Try to avoid stressful confrontations and keep self happy and stress-free. Don’t give lessons to anyone. Let be ‘yourself’ and allow others to be ‘their-self’. Plan a good sleep. It helps in taking care of your body and mind.

If you are depressed or anxious or stressful, if you are not getting good sleep, consult a doctor. There is nothing to feel ashamed or low about it.

Plan your fitness –
You need to have a bank balance of your energy, enthusiasm, immunity and fitness when you enter the next decade of your ageing process. Get into good quality and quantity of fitness as early as possible. Have good exercise and workouts. Yoga and meditation also will do. Do it under guidance and don’t overdo them. Likewise seek the help of your trainer so as to plan your fitness programmed and exercises for next decade, so as to keep them apt to your age.

Look for alternative job or past-time activity of your choice –

Keeping self engaged in some sort of activity or hobby or alternative job will keep the body and mind fit or at least keeps alive a feel of being fit. ‘An ideal mind is the devils workshop’ is a saying which looks so real in old age or retired life. Why allow a devil to work in your mind? You work instead. The activity can range from taking tuitions to kids to gardening or learning music to cooking, from traveling to painting and many more.

Pancharkarma

The body needs to be evacuated of its cumulative toxins, wastes and excreta frequently. This enables the body to function smoothly. Shodhan or body cleansing measures including the Panchakarma methods i.e. Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), Vasti (therapeutic enemas) and Nasya (nasal medication) should be planned according to one’s need and morbidity or proneness to get particular health issues. This shall not only cure the existing diseases but would provide long standing immunity against those diseases and also prevent recurrences. They are also anti-ageing.

Shodhana will help you to progress into your next decade with optimum confidence and strength.

Pamper your body and mind, often –
Ayurveda has wonderful remedies to soothe your body and mind. You need not have a disease or disorder to undergo these pampering treatments. The beauty is that you need these treatments while you are in the transition period, progressing from middle age to old age, even at old age and retired life. These remedies are also anti-ageing.

These treatments include abhyanga (herbal oil massage), swedana (steaming), pinda sweda (bolus fomentations), sthanika vasti (joint and spine care with oil pooling), shirodhara (oil streaming or pouring in stream of medicated fluids over the head), sarvangadhara (stream pouring of medicated oil and other fluids over the body) etc

Rasayana Therapy

Jara Chikitsa or Ayurvedic part of the Geriatrics is probably the first known documented ‘anti-ageing’ principle of treatment and preventive medicine in any medical science. Jara is a part and one of the key branches of 8 branches of Ayurveda (Ashtanga Ayurveda).

This branch deals with Rasayana (medicines and measures which have tissue building and tissue protective properties. Tissues or dhatus are the building blocks of the body. These represent the immunity, strength, composure and endurance of an individual. The dhatus degenerate towards old age. The tissues destruction should be prevented and the strength and immunity maintained as one steps into the successive decades of ageing. For this Rasayanas would come in handy. They shall be planned well in advance in consultation with an experienced Ayurveda or Rasayana practitioner.

Rasayanas are broad spectrum medicines. They are anti-ageing, preventive medicines, immune-modulators and tissue rejuvenators.

Keep in touch with your doctor and keep a check on your chronic ailments –

Keeping a check on chronic ailments like heart problems, High BP, Diabetes, Thyroid related disorders, Neurological disorders, Joint and Spinal disorders, Insomnia etc are important. Never miss a dose of medicine and never self medicate. Have the numbers of your family doctor or specialists seeing you. Keep in touch for any variations in health.

Old age is not the end of life. It may be the beginning too. It depends on how we see things and how we manage them. On every birthday of mine, I usually declare that I am one year young. The mind behaves alike and takes care of the body mechanisms in a likely way. The body behaves as we think and we should train the thought process. We should not feel aged at mind before the ageing grips our body. Even when the body is getting old, if we keep our mind young and thoughts positive, our old age and retired life will be at its happiest best!!
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)

Right Anti Aging Medicine

What Rasayanas can be taken daily? 
Dr JV Hebbar
Rasayana is an Ayurvedic term to indicate anti aging medicine. The right choice of anti aging medicine depends on many factors and a consultation with Ayurvedic doctor will help you to find the right one. 

Here is a brief explanation of different rasayanas, used for different purposes. 
Gym, Muscle and nerve strength, stress – Ashwagandha rasayana, Ajaswagandhadi Lehyam  

Memory, concentration – Brahmi rasayana 
Cancer prone – Brahma Rasayana 
Respiratory illnesses, asthma – Agastya Haritaki Rasayana, Vasishta Rasayana 
Respiratory, digestive and sexual illnesses – Chyawanprash 
Digestive issues, Liver – Pippali Rasayana 
Gym, bodybuilding, fatigue, tiredness – Shilajit Rasayana 
Nerve strength – Ksheerabala 101 
Skin and vascular health – Gandhaka Rasayana, Madhusnuhi Rasayana 
Hair health, strength and overall immunity, to gain weight Narasimha Rasayana
Anemia – Lauha Rasayana
To gain muscle strength and immunity after a chronicillness, for people taking non vegetarian foods – Ajamamsa Rasayana
For liver and skin diseases, to improve digestion strength –Bhallataka Rasayana
For improving body weight, mental calmness, intelligence to fight fatigue – Kushmanda Rasayana