Eastern philosophies have encouraged the practice of yoga and meditation for centuries and in recent years these pursuits have gained mainstream acceptance.
As a yoga teacher I am aware of the many ways yoga can help to reverse the aging process but science is now beginning to add credence to these claims.
One of the most powerful ways we can reverse aging is by practicing inversions. Every time our head is below our heart or a feet are above our heart we are challenging our bodies to work in the opposite direction to the usual flow of gravity. This challenges our circulatory system, our heart and lungs to work in a different way, whilst reversing the aging process on all our internal organs.
Backbends are another powerful way that we can also reverse the aging process. As we age, our spine compresses and we begin to stoop, by practicing backbends, we help to reverse this process whilst a longer leaner posture, takes years off our actual age.
And twisting asanas (poses) help to wring out all the toxins from our internal organs, flooding them with renewed energy.
But recent studies have begun to quantify these improvements. There are two substances linked to longevity and health: growth hormone (GH) & dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS). A recent study showed that men and women who practiced yoga for over an hour a day over a 12 week period saw a significant increase in the blood serum GH & DHEAS, the first time a chemical response to the practice of yoga has been recognised.
Meditation is also a powerful antidote to aging. There are little caps on the end of our chromosomes, called telomeres, which dwindle over time. These protective caps can deteriorate at a much faster rate in people who experience high levels of stress. This has been linked to an acceleration of the aging process.
So the focus became on how do we protect these telomeres from the catastrophic effects of chronic stress and attention turned to meditation. After studying people on retreat and measuring their telomeres it was discovered that those who had been on a meditation retreat for 3 months had 30% higher levels of telomeres.
Whilst the exact dynamics are not fully understood it is believed that slowing down your breath, engaging fully in the present moment and staying focused on a single task instead of bombarding our brains with perpetual multi-tasking are some of the key components that help rejuvenate the telomeres.
So, by combining a daily meditation practice with a daily yoga practice, you could dramatically reduce your stress levels, delay the aging process and improve your wellbeing and wellness.
For more information check out these two articles
https://bbc.in/1kaKPvt
https://bit.ly/2Lo7AS3
