Staying Healthy and Young

My wifes Grandmother's brother, whatever that works out to being in relation terms is 91, his health is incredible, very spry and very intelligent. I asked him today how he does it? He said there are 2 things that helps him stay young and fit:

1. Yoga - He demonstrated some of his Yoga postures and it was amazing. I tried some of the positions and it felt good. Sounds like something worth doing. My wife's sister is into Pilates and she says it is very similar but a little more motion, she absolutely loves it!

2. Reading?? He reads a lot of psychology based books that simply point out the fact that you are only old if you believe you are old and things simply slow down once you accept the fact that you are old. He stays young in his mind.

It obviously works since he looks and feels great.

Any thoughts out there?

Rob

ROB...That sweet man would be your wife's great uncle in terms of realtionship...~smile~

I too love yoga--the positions--the breathing and meditation all combine together to help you focus on your mind, body and soul for a feeling of health and well-being.

And attitude...ATTITUDE...in my opinion make a huge difference in the way you feel as far as age goes! I think it is important to keep up with not just world events and politics, but also with current trends in music, fashion, etc. A person doesn't have to embrace the trends...I have a classic style of fashion....and I don't always like the new music that comes out, but I take the time to listen to some of it....who knows...maybe I might even like some of it..I just want to be familiar with the names and genre in the music business.

I believe you are as young or old as you feel...and that image gets projected to others around you.

How much time do you spend each day on Yoga and is a beginner type book enough to get started?
Rob

Rob...

I bought a beginning yoga video by Rodney Yee to get me started. This was about 3 years ago. It is called "a.m. yoga."

I spend about 30 minutes in the morning doing my yoga to get me relaxed and focused to meet the demands of the day.

I spend about 30-45 minutes in the evening do a bit more of a yoga workout...I like tapes by Patricia Walden...but there are several good tapes out there.

You could get a book, but I would recommend videos so that you can actually see how the body should be positioned. You don't want to take a risk on hurting yourself. Or you may check out your local gym and see if there are yoga classes being offered. Sometimes local colleges offer yoga classes at minimal cost.

I would like to try pilates...just so I can keep my body as flexible as possible. A nessecity when involved with a young man. :)

Good luck on your yoga lifestyle.

from everything ive read about yoga....it IS the spiritual, mind/body connection.....i taught aerobics in the US for years and really there is much controversy about exercise as we know. Most asian forms of exercise are gentler on the heart muscle....not as 'pounding' as we have come to know 'exercise' in the US. One book says the heart is a machine that only has so many beats per lifetime....very hard exercise which makes that machine beat MUCH faster than normal USES some of its LIFE. Now in the US..we would say in order to keep that muscle healthy we have to encourage that muscle to stay strong and therefore making it beat faster is the KEY. There is a balance between the two....pilates....seems to combine faster movements for some cardio-vascular benefit....strengthen the CORE of the body (abdomen and back), as well as provide the lengthing, stretching, spiritual connection through yoga. There are many good tapes available...beginning ones are almost necessary especially in yoga based movements because the body has to adapt and gain flexibility in order to perform...thank goodness that flexibility and muscle growth CAN come back at any age with a little concentrated effort....look for a tape made from an instructor who is certified in that particular field. Im all for reading as we get older too, Rob. When the MIND stays occupied and active....it seems the body does follow....it creates an attitude of longevity....youthfulness, and USEFULNESS that I think as we age sometimes we LOSE. Thanks so much for the forum...i think all will come away with something useful here.=)

Yoga is wonderful - there are many, many benefits to practicing it. Luckily, more and more people are starting to realize how good it is for you.

I have to agree with your wife's great-uncle - reading (and other mental exercises) are VITALLY important to the elderly (and everyone, for that matter). My paternal grandfather was a bank president, and stayed on the job until he passed away in his eighties. He remained informed about world events, worked crosswords and seek-and-find puzzles every night, read the newspaper every morning, and talked to people of all ages each day. Those things kept him amazingly sharp, and he was in 100% possession of all his faculties when he passed away.

You really are as young or old as you think you are. The guy you described is absolutely correct in his assessments - good for him!!!

- Jesse