PRIME February 2020 I 5
YOGA FOR HEALTHY AGING By Nancy Ruby
A
ll living things age and ever y species has a natural built-in life span. The funny thing is, whenever I mention healthy aging there is an immediate assumption that aging signifies getting old, as if it were a problem. However, the truth is that as long as we are living, we are aging one day at a time. Growing old is a privilege and the practice of yoga offers effective tools to help us age well while enjoying all stages of life. Did you know that there are two types of aging? Type One is the chronological aging process that manifests as a timely and natural progression of getting older. Changes in vision, skin and hair are completely normal. So, too, is some loss of strength, mobility, balance, sight, hearing, heart health, and/or brain function. Yoga has been shown to be an incredible tool to support good, ongoing health in all of these areas. It is proven to help avoid the potential pitfalls or obstacles of aging. when addressed consistently over time.
Type Two aging is when the biologi-
cal age is ahead of the chronological age.
Untimely aging is when the challenges of
old age occur much earlier than expected.
If we avoid the self-care routines of daily exercise, balanced nutrition, and deep
rest, then the aging process speeds up. If
we overindulge in alcohol, drugs, stress-
ful thought patterns, unhealthy eating, or
lack of sleep, this is what we call “Wisdom
Crimes.” Actions committed which we
know to be detrimental to our own wellbeing.
We know that lifestyle choices make
a huge difference in how we age. Sci-
this keen awareness we can then choose to apply the small doable actions that can make big differences in how we age. What routines or regimes are active in your life at this time? What lessons have you learned in your own journey of healthy aging? Do you have the support you need to remain motivated in your daily wellness practices? As Valentine’s Day approaches, be your own sweetheart and gift yourself with daily self -care. Dedicate some part of each day to move your body, feed yourself well, and place your thoughts on that which brings you a sense of peace, joy, and love.
Nancy Ruby runs YogaMotion Wellness Academy in Bozeman and describes herself as an educator, joyologist and lifestyle engineer. She has been sharing her teachings in yoga and wellness education for the past 40 years. Ruby currently specializes in supporting the health and wellbeing of Baby Boomers and beyond. She is a new contributor to Prime. Look for her wellness columns in upcoming Prime editions.
ence now shows that the movement and mindfulness of yoga offers a wonderful
approach to building and maintaining
strength, flexibility, balance and agility
along with improved mental focus and
heart health. Over the past 40 years, I have been practicing and teaching the benefits
of yoga for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. At the age of 61, I can attest to
these mindfulness practices helping to at-
tune us to the subtle changes that naturally
occur in the process of living. Through
Yoga Motion
Wellness Academy
