Yoga and Ayurveda improve the quality of life and inculcate a positive attitude towards ageing, says Namita Piparaiya

In Ayurveda, a lifespan is divided into three stages — balavastha (childhood), madhyavastha (young and middle age), and vridhavastha (old age). It is evident that two people of the same age may have different energy levels, and a lot depends on how we take care of our body or how much we push our energy beyond its limit.

Four factors influence our ageing, such as time, nature, diet, and type of illness. Additionally, in vridhavastha, vata dosha (air and space element) becomes dominant. Since vata is concerned with bones and the nervous system, if proper care is not taken, the degeneration can be seen in joints along with the mind that undergoes various cognitive issues. These are some of the first signs of age-related decline.

Here are a few ways in which Ayurveda and yoga can help in enhancing your lifestyle:

Create a routine

This is the first stage of ayurvedic living. At each stage of life, we must create a routine that suits our personality-type. Having a fixed sleep schedule, starting your day by drinking water, finishing all ablutions, and making time for some mindful activities, like yoga and meditation, can help rejuvenate you in the morning itself. Plan your days and find activities that you enjoy — it helps in avoiding the feelings of loneliness and boredom.

Stay active

Moderate daily activity will keep the body and bones healthy. In the vata stage, more grounding activities like hatha yoga or moderate weight-training are recommended. High-intensive activities like plyometrics increase vata, so it may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, it is significant to choose your physical activities accordingly. Balance training is particularly important for healthy ageing because it is an excellent way to tone down vata and to develop strong mind-body awareness.

Focus on mental fitness

Along with a healthy body, a strong mind is also important. We often underestimate the stresses of old age, which may arise due to loneliness, fear, loss of ability, and so on. By making time for pranayama, meditation, mindful walking, and even by engaging in recreational hobbies, we can keep our minds healthy.

Eat well

We must change our nutritional needs. Especially after 60, our dietary habits start catching up with our bodily systems. Therefore, we start seeing increased instances of issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, electrolyte imbalances, insomnia, and so on. So, it is important to choose nutrient-rich foods, that you can get by eating a wide variety of local produce, eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats, especially Omega 3s. You should avoid sugary foods, dry salty snacks, and junk food.

Explore ayurvedic therapies

Not all herbs or therapies are suitable for everyone. An ayurvedic doctor will assess your body type and recommend treatments suitable for your specific conditions. This can include panchakarma, herbs, or dietary prescriptions. These are best taken after being assessed by a professional.

With a little discipline and some motivation, we can improve not only our longevity but also our quality of life. It helps in keeping a positive attitude towards ageing.

(The author is the founder of Yoganama, a wellness platform that emphasises on yoga, Ayurveda and philosophy for mindful living.)