Ageing - Ayurvedic Practitioners Association

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Ayurvedic clinic:
Ageing
Finding perfect balance and health
through ayurveda, yoga’s sister science.
By Dr. Vijay Murthy
The good news is there is no reason why great health cannot be
enjoyed as we age, especially if we maintain a healthy diet, continue
to exercise and practice yoga.
Ageing is, in fact, not the real problem, but illness can be. Today,
it’s a sad fact almost 75% of people over 65 suffer from at least
one chronic illness, the most common conditions being dementia,
hypertension, respiratory diseases, heart attack, stroke and
diabetes. But when we understand most of these conditions are
related to lifestyle, and not just ageing, we are able to think more
positively about our future health. This is also where ayurveda is
particularly relevant as it focuses on improving lifestyle with simple
suggestions and routines as the primary method for creating
wellness and health.
Ayurveda bases its methods on the three biological forces called
vata, pitta and kapha. One simple point to bear in mind is that
vata the increase of dry and rough qualities as we age. Vata
is the principle of movement. It is characterised by dry, rough,
mobile qualities and controls functions such as our physical
movement, movement of food, circulation, activities of the mind
and neurological processes. Pitta is the principle of metabolism,
characterised by hot, sharp, fluid qualities, which govern all
processes of digestion and hormones. Kapha is the principle of
stability; it is characterised by heavy, oily and slow qualities, which
lubricate joints, strengthens tissues and provides immunity.
When we are children we have more qualities attributed to kapha.
From our twenties onwards pitta is more prominent. In older age,
the principles of pitta and kapha, such as metabolism and immunity,
become weakened and vata takes on a predominant role through
the increase of dry, mobile and rough qualities both in the body and
the mind.
Drinking warm water instead of cold
Sounds like something your grandmother would have said or just
too simplistic to be true. However, if we understand that most
changes during old age are due to the decrease of metabolism,
which in ayurvedic terms is a depletion of the metabolic fire or agni,
then anything we do to increase our metabolism will help. Simple
practices such as drinking warm water instead of cold or iced water,
or drinking ginger tea every day, will help to increase metabolism
and should be adopted by all.
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Oil is one of the vital keys to wellness
Some people only associate ayurveda with massage - and an oily one at that. But there are
good reasons behind the ritual of a prescribed daily massage in ayurveda. As we age, the
water proportion in the skin lessens, making the skin dry and prone to irritation. Applying warm
oils such as sesame or almond oil on a regular basis helps not just in moistening the skin but
also improves the circulation, maintains flexibility of the joints and brings the person back in
touch with him-or-herself, vital in a world when we all tend to live in our heads or on Facebook.
So regular massage, either with a therapist or self-applied, is not only nurturing but a vital key
to wellness.
Just breathe
Did you know that the body’s capacity to process oxygen diminishes as we age and it is this
reduced oxygen that can lead to breathing difficulties in the elderly? Ayurveda suggests
pranayama a yogic breathing practice, which expands lung capacity, calms the mind and
increases the body’s oxygen carrying capacity. Again, there is no need to wait until you are
older, starting pranayama or even becoming more aware of your breath whilst practicing yoga
will help increase not just the oxygen levels in your body but how you feel in general. There is
nothing worse than a stuffy office or stale air in a closed up house. So go outside and breathe.
Muscle mass will decrease and fat increases as we age
No matter what you see in magazines with glitzy pictures of ageing celebs, body muscle mass
will decrease and fat increase with age, if given a chance. This is why we need to be active to
compensate for these bodily changes. According to recent studies on ageing, being bedridden for 15 days can age a person biologically by 10 years. Alarming as this kind of research
may seem, knowing this makes us aware of how vital it is to keep ourselves and our family
moving. By practicing yoga, people gain greater flexibility, become grounded, have improved
digestive functions and increased mental capacities. It is ideal for everyone including older
people as it not only increases the bone density by its endurance building postures but also
improves the body’s ability to maintain postural balance, both of which can drastically reduce
the risks for injury and hip fractures, which are often caused by low bone density.
Ayu Sanskrit
(from Ayush meaning lifespan)…
Definition:
Health…Life…
Veda Sanskrit
(from vid meaning to know)…
Definition:
Knowledge…Science…
Ayurveda Sanskrit
• Science and art of improving
quality of life and longevity…
• ageless knowledge of health
through life…
• the oldest complete health
system…
Definition:
THE SCIENCE OF LIFE
Make changes to your diet today add spices for your digestion
Make food more interesting. Ayurveda recommends digestive spices such as cumin, coriander,
fennel and turmeric to be added in everyday cooking to make food easily digestible and
to improve the general state of health. Fatigue and low energy levels are not just felt by
the elderly; neither do they need to be the realities of old age. Most of the fatigue and low
energy we notice is due to increased intake of stimulants such as coffee, eating refined and
processed foods, white sugar or sugar substitutes. It’s vital we look at our own diet now and
make changes today that will help as we age as well as looking at changes that can be made for
our family.
Age is the time to get to know our spiritualty
In a world where being young and beautiful is seemingly everything, ayurveda believes that
every age is important. When we’re older we have a chance to be creative and try something
new. Look around today and you will see retired people enjoying learning new skills, taking up
yoga or Tai Chi and travelling the world. Ayurveda sees older age as the time to get to know
our spiritual dimension, independent of religion or faith. Spirituality is related to recognising
the parts in us that go beyond the levels of the mind. Meditation is a great way to connect
with the inner self so we start to realise the interconnected nature of the human state with the
universe.
Now is the time
So, now is the time to develop a regular routine, to find a purpose in life. Now is the time
to engage with new projects and have enthusiasm for the wider community. Why, because
everything you do now will help send the message to the body and mind that yes, ageing is
natural but it does not have to be debilitating and can actually be fun. The saying, ‘use it or
lose it’, is the secret of enjoying life no matter how old we are. And, based on modern research
and the ancient wisdom of ayurveda, it’s as true today as it ever was.
Dr Vijay Murthy is a London-based ayurvedic doctor and a member of the Ayurvedic
Practitioners Association (apa.uk.com)
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