Four ways to Age Gracefully

Maybe we can't stop the clock, but we can keep our bodies, minds and emotions in good shape as we age. "One of the factors that plays a major role in aging is ama," says Vaidya Mishra, director of Product Development at Maharishi Ayurveda Products International. Ama refers to the impurities that accumulate due to poor digestion or eating the wrong foods. Ama blocks the channels that supply nutrient fluid to the cells, eventually leading to disease. But mental ama is an even more important factor. "Aging starts with the mind, not the body," says Vaidya Mishra. "Aging begins when mental ama accumulates in the mental channels, disturbing the coordination between dhi, dhriti, and smriti (acquisition, retention, and recall ). Then problems such as memory loss start to surface."

Another aspect of aging is simply the time of life. As you round the corner to your golden 50s, you start transitioning from the Pitta stage of life to the Vata time. The dry, moving, and irregular Vata dosha dominates, and can cause typical problems of aging, such as dry skin, irregular digestion, and insomnia.

So the battle against aging has several facets: removing mental and physical ama and balancing Vata dosha. Here are four ways to age gracefully.

1. Start with a Youthful Mind

Many people think that losing memory is just part of growing old. But without ama, mental faculties actually become more coordinated with age rather than deteriorating.

What causes mental ama? Wrong behavior creates mental ama and breaks down the coordination between dhi, dhriti and smriti (acquisition, retention and recall).

"Following the traditional Ayurvedic behaviors, called Achara Rasayana , prevents mental ama," says Vaidya Mishra. (The word Achara means "behavior," and Rasayana usually refers to refined herbal compounds that promote longevity, but in this case, refers to behaviors that promote longevity). Behavioral Rasayana actually nourishes the body and creates ojas, the finest product of digestion that supports clarity of thinking, mind-body coordination, and ideal health.

These positive behaviors include truthfulness, nonviolence, calmness, sweet speech, cleanliness, charitableness, freedom from anger, control of the senses, balance in sleep and wakefulness, not exerting to the point of exhaustion, and respect towards teachers, preceptors and elders.

"Of course, it's difficult to follow Behavioral Rasayanas perfectly," points out Vaidya Mishra. "That's why the practice of the Transcendental Meditation 0…3 technique is important. It removes the stress that keeps you from following right behavior, and is the most effective way to dissolve mental ama."

Yoga asanas and breathing exercises, such as pranayama, also clear mental ama. Deep breathing while exercising also supplies oxygen to the brain cells, rejuvenating tired cells and preventing unwanted damage.

2. Take Herbal Supplements for the Mind

Vaidya Mishra recommends Youthful Mind to improve acquisition, retention and recall. This ancient ayurvedic formula is in a special class of herbal preparations, called Medhya Rasayana, or that which is good for the intellect . Ancient Ayurvedic texts describe Aloeweed (Shankapushpi) as the foremost herb for developing mental functioning.

Youthful Mind also contains two other herbs with Medhya Rasayana effect: Heart-leaved Moonseed (Guduchi) and Herpestis Monniera (Brahmi).

Modern research validates that these two herbs help enhance memory, and keep the mind young.

If you are experiencing mental fatigue, take Worry Free tablets and Tea along with Youthful Mind to remove mental stress and prevent memory loss as you age. Research on Worry Free tablets, conducted at the University of California in San Diego, showed that Worry Free is effective in reducing anxiety and levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. It is highly effective in treating sleep disorders related to an imbalance in Vata dosha.

"I also recommend Maharishi Amrit Kalash, the king of all rasayanas, to dissolve mental and physical ama and increase ojas," says Vaidya Mishra. "It is essential as we age."

3. Clean up Your Diet

"Due to the onset of the Vata time of life, appetite and digestion often becomes less reliable in later years," says Vaidya Mishra. "The chances of creating ama are greater, so that is why a light, warm, nutritious diet, full of nature's intelligence, is essential for the Vata time of life."

He advises staying away from preserved, canned, dead or frozen foods, as these create ama. A diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, light dairy products, legumes, and whole grains such as quinoa--which contains carbohydrates, protein and zinc--provides much more intelligence and vitality.

For a healthy mind, Vaidya Mishra recommends nourishing foods such as walnuts, raw coconut chutney, milk-mango shake, and milk-date shake, because these enhance ojas.


4. Balance Your Routine
To balance Vata dosha, keep a regular ayurvedic routine. Going to bed at different times, too little sleep and irregular mealtimes aggravate Vata dosha. Go to bed before ten, rise before six, eat your main meal at noon, and eat three meals at regular times every day. Taking breaks when you're tired and practicing Yoga asanas, pranayama, and meditation are all essential for managing stress and calming Vata. "Abhyanga (ayurvedic massage) is one of the best Vata-pacifying tips," says Vaidya Mishra. He recommends Rejuvenation Oil for Men or Women.

The main idea is to avoid creating ama, because once it spreads and goes deep into the tissues it can create disease. "If you are ama- free, you can almost become free of aging altogether," says Vaidya Mishra. "You'll have enough ojas in the body and mind to make less mistakes and grow toward enlightenment--and enjoy success, bliss and satisfaction in life.