Today, I received a guest post from a representative of Dahn Yoga, a group that teaches a Korean form of yoga. I agree with her advice. I would only say that instead of "avoiding feeling older than you are," yoga enables you to feel eternally youthful! I know I don't look 25, that would be a miracle-slightly more than three decades later! But, I certainly DO feel 25 - no joke! And yoga, has been a major contributing factor.
Here is the article verbatim, contributed from Dahn Yoga and its accompanying photo:
"How to avoid feeling older than you are
Growing old can make a person feel down. No one likes to feel like their time has passed them by. Yet the more you dwell on these kinds of ideas, the older and more decrepit you feel. As soon as you start recognizing your age you truly are old.
However, there are many ways to get around these problems and make yourself feel young again. Age doesn't have to be a drag. In fact, individuals who take steps to preserve their physical health may find that growing old doesn't have to mean physical disability. Meanwhile, the experience gained throughout the years may come to seem like a benefit.
Exercise is one of the most important things a person can do to maintain their youthful enthusiasm. You don't have to start going out and running marathons or anything like that, but finding ways to get some physical activity into every day is one of the best ways to keep the muscles tight and the blood flowing.
Even simple things like going for a walk with your partner or spending some time in the garden count toward daily exercise. Furthermore, activities like these are low-impact, and therefore are less like to take a toll on the joints, which is a common problem that makes people feel older than they really are.
Yoga may be another way to keep the body moving and feeling young as you start to get older. This exercise involves stretching and mindfulness, two activities that can preserve the body and the mind at the same time. Again, as with moderate everyday activities, yoga is low-impact, so individuals with joint pain don't have to worry about it aggravating their condition.
So exercise is the best way to keep the body in a youthful state, but what about the mind? Even people who are in good physical health can experience cognitive impairments as they age. Few things make a person feel old quite like forgetfulness. Fortunately, there are many ways a person can keep their mind sharp.
One way may be to start a hobby. This is a part of growing old that many people overlook. However, few things quicken the pace of cognitive decline quite like sitting around in front of the TV. People who have things to do and interests to develop are much more likely to maintain good mental function.
A hobby can include painting, picking up a new instrument, learning a new language or even something simple like doing the daily crossword puzzle. The important thing is to have something do every day. Ideally, it should be something you enjoy and look forward to.
Meditation is another great way to avoid cognitive impairments with age. The practice helps individuals practice clearing their mind and paying attention to specific thoughts. This can lead to better control of ideas over time.
No one wants to get old, but unfortunately, it will happen even to the best of us. The key is to age gracefully and with dignity. By paying attention to your physical and mental health and taking steps to improve yourself every day, you can accomplish this."
Dahn Yoga is one of the largest yoga and tai chi companies in the world with its own unique style and brand of yoga. <a href=”http://www.dahnyogaor.com”>Dahn Yoga</a> is rooted in the rich history of an ancient Asian mind-body practice, Sun Do, and in the wisdom of the Chun Bu Kyung."
Thank you Dahn Yoga for your guest post. I intend to stay youthful with yoga!
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach
