Healthy Aging – 7 Secrets for a Longer, Healthier Life

Scientists estimate that under optimal conditions, we can live to be 120 years old. In fact, much is possible to live longer and at the same time preserve our health, so that we can shape our later years actively and with an alert mind. Dr. Robert Schneider, an American preventive medicine physician and scientist, has been tracking healthy aging for decades.

As early as 1984, Dr. Schneider was one of the first doctors in the USA to practice, teach, and scientifically research Maharishi AyurVeda. His clinical research in the areas of mind-body medicine, the aging process, and cardiovascular diseases was supported by the US government with more than 25 million USD. The results of these studies have been reported in 150 renowned specialist journals and more than 1000 articles in print, radio, and television. Dr. Schneider has served as a consultant to the National Institutes of Health, many health institutions, commissions, and the US Congress. He lectures on four continents at many academic teaching hospitals, professional societies, and public forums. He is a Professor and Director at the "Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention" and Dean of the "College of Integrative Medicine" at Maharishi University of Management, USA. In addition, Dr. Schneider is the Medical Director of the award-winning "Raj Ayurveda" Health Spa in Fairfield, Iowa.

It's in Our Hands

For a long time, it was assumed that achievable life expectancy was primarily a matter of predisposition. Thanks to modern epigenetics, we now know that our genes mainly represent the basic equipment. Which genes become active, however, largely depends on environmental influences – and thus on our lifestyle. This means: By the way we live, we can significantly influence the way we age and keep ourselves young and healthy for as long as possible.

Why Ayurveda?

Ayurveda – the knowledge of life – has a millennia-old tradition of health prevention. "Vaya Sthapan" describes the way to halt aging processes and thus corresponds to what we understand today as anti-aging. The special feature of Ayurveda lies in its holistic approach, which draws on the wisdom of our own body intelligence and promotes mind and body deeply from within. Because if we succeed in restoring the "memory" present in our body, for example, to remind the highly vital and healthy body cells, tissues, and organs of our youth of their original function again as we age, and to harmonize our Doshas, we create an important foundation for long-lasting well-being and "Healthy Aging." The great advantage of Ayurveda is that individual Dosha types are taken into account, allowing for customized approaches to be developed. For Ayurveda knows that each Dosha type ages in its own unique way. In addition, Ayurveda offers us three starting points:

• Body
• Mind
• Environment

The Aging IQ

Analogous to the well-known IQ score as a measure of mental intelligence, Dr. Schneider likes to speak of the Aging IQ, which depends on four factors:

1. our Dosha type
2. our mental state and stress level
3. digestion and elimination
4. sleep quality

Whether we are a dynamic Vata type, a fiery Pitta type with a sharp mind, or an enduring, patient Kapha type: Our Dosha type shapes our body and mind. If you would like to find out which Dosha type you are, you can access our Dosha test here. Noticed for millennia in Ayurveda, modern science confirms that stress accelerates the aging process and highlights the importance of caring for the mind, digestion, elimination, and sleep:

• By reducing stress, we can not only halt its negative consequences but even partially reverse them.
• Our digestion has a close connection to our health.
• Our sleep quality influences our quality of life and lifespan.

If we create balance in these areas, according to Dr. Schneider, we increase our personal Aging IQ and thus hold the key to a longer life in our hands.

Learning from the long-lived: 7 secrets of longevity

In some regions, people live noticeably longer. They not only remain physically and mentally fitter for longer, but they also feel better and are more socially engaged. Seven points seem to be essentially responsible for a long, healthy life. These largely confirm traditional Ayurvedic knowledge:

1. Move daily. Our article Ayurveda and Sport provides inspiration.

4. Reduce stress and anxiety. Maharishi Ayurveda^® recommends practicing Transcendental Meditation^® (TM) twice a day. This has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by almost half, and noticeably lower biological age – by an average of twelve years after 5 years of practice! And: Much more crucial than the stress trigger itself is the way we react to stress. Here you will find more tips for dealing with stress from the perspective of Maharishi Ayurveda^®. Anxiety not only affects the immune system but also the hormonal and digestive systems. This can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other psychological illnesses. More than 600 studies, conducted at over 250 universities and research institutes in 35 countries worldwide, confirm the positive effects of deep TM meditation practice in many areas of life.
5. Discover your life's purpose. What do you want to achieve in your life? What are your most important values? Adjust your goals and live by them!
6. Maintain social contacts, help, and accept help yourself. Make time for family, friends, and other people. Strong social relationships noticeably contribute to health and longevity.
7. Finding meaning. Engage with universal knowledge, the wisdom and scriptures of your religion or spiritual tradition; community with others is beneficial.

Behavioral Rasayanas as a Source of Youth

According to Ayurvedic principles, our aging begins in our mind, which in turn influences the body and our emotions. The Ayurvedic texts provide many tips for greater balance and increasing life energy; even behavioral tips described as Rasayanas for a long, happy, and healthy life:

1. Don't put pressure on yourself. Activity and rest should always be in balance. Don't overexert yourself – specifically schedule time for relaxation, leisure, play, fun, and joy. Don't overwork.
2. Maintain hope. Optimism has a positive effect on a longer life.
3. Stay calm. View problems as an opportunity for development and inner growth. Reflect, look at each situation holistically and empathetically.
4. Respect for others, honesty, humility, non-violence, altruism, compassion, charity, social and voluntary engagement. Those who do good for others demonstrably benefit themselves.
5. Regular eating and sleeping rhythms promote sleep and digestion.
6. Fresh, balanced, and healthy diet. Maharishi Ayurveda^® recommends fresh preparation of fresh organic foods without genetic engineering. Meat, convenience foods, caffeine, and alcohol should be avoided as much as possible or consumed sparingly.
Nutritional supplements. In addition to a healthy diet, you can use herbal mixtures prepared according to traditional Ayurvedic recipes as dietary supplements. In addition, Maharishi Ayurveda^® knows a whole range of Rasayanas that are specially tailored to certain groups, such as Rasayanas for children, students, women, and men. Dr. Schneider's absolute favorite Rasayana for all Dosha types, however, is Amrit Kalash.

We wish you much joy and fulfillment in implementing these Ayurvedic recommendations. May they help you stay fit and healthy for a long time! Your Maharishi Ayurveda Team Literature: Schneider, Robert H.: Total Heart Health