September is Healthy Aging Month. As we transition from the heat of Summer to the coolness of Fall, this is a prime time for reflection on aging gracefully.
In Western cultures there is an endless supply of anti-aging serums meant to keep one’s physical appearance young and refreshed; this is often emphasized over all other aspects of aging. There is truth to the adage, "If you look good, you feel good.” Yet we know Ayurvedically that healthy aging goes far beyond one’s outward appearance and the societal pressures that reinforce such beauty standards. Ayurveda is an ancient holistic healing system originating from India that offers a comprehensive path to graceful, healthy, and happy aging. By understanding some of the fundamental Ayurvedic principles explained in this article, you will gain valuable insights for embracing the aging process with ease, vitality, and well-being.
Know Your Dosha(s)
To begin your healthy aging journey, it is necessary to understand how your overall constitution or nature presents; this is referred to as your Prakriti. Ayurvedically, this is determined by properly assessing which Dosha(s) are predominant within your constitution. The Doshas along with their respective elements are considered the governing energies of the body that can become imbalanced and lead to states of ill-health. These Doshas include:
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Vata (air/ether)
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Pitta (fire/water)
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Kapha (earth/water)
Traditionally, Ayurveda acknowledges that particular Doshas dominate during three stages of our lives, Kapha during childhood, Pitta during midlife, and Vata during old age. Whereas this denotes the general tendencies of the human life cycle, it is important to work with an Ayurvedic professional for proper assessment. With this awareness and the help of a professional, we can learn to adopt habits that help prevent disease and imbalance throughout the lifespan. To learn more about the qualities of each Dosha, you can visit this article here.
Holistic Philosophy for Healthy Aging
Ayurveda address the wholeness of our nature (Prakriti), mind, body, and spirit. The ultimate goal is to support all aspects of this continuum in a holistic manner for optimal well-being throughout one's lifetime. As we age, we may experience a decline in the functioning of our body along with a decline in the sharpness of our mind. As the years progress, many find a heightened desire to explore their spirituality and discover a greater meaning to existence. Given this awareness, we will explore various Ayurvedic tools for aging gracefully, sharpening and calming the mind, and finding meaning through spiritual connection.
Body Care for Graceful Aging
Building longevity, strength, and resilience physically through Ayurveda entails having well-built Dhātus (tissues) coupled with a robust immune system. Building our Dhātus naturally increases the luster of your skin and your Ojas, an Ayurvedic sign of vigor and vitality. Central to keeping our Dhātus strong and healthy is a therapy known as Rasāyana which plays a significant role in graceful aging. Rasāyana simply refers to practices that enhance our Ojas, this can be through diet, lifestyle habits, behavior, spiritual practices, or through herbs and supplements.
Rasa dhātu, one of the seven Dhātus, is highly important in nourishing all others. Rasa refers to plasma and serum which physiologically contain innumerable immune cells, proteins, fats, and nutrients that are necessary to be delivered to other tissues to carry out their physiological needs. Given this importance, improving Rasa is one of the most fundamental ways to provide our body with nourishment throughout one’s lifespan.
Traditional ways of improving Rasa include the digestion of Shatavari. This medicinal herb shares an ancestry with the commonly known vegetable asparagus; however, Shatavari specifically refers to the root of Asparagus racemosus, another plant within the asparagus family. Shatavari is a mineral-dense root containing sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium in addition to traces of iron, copper, and zinc (Krishnamoorthy, et al). It is also loaded with many benefits including antioxidant and aphrodisiac effects, calming support for the nervous system, and aiding digestion in the gastrointestinal tract (Alok S, et al). Its main action produces a cooling effect on the body which balances Pitta and Vāta. Shatavari can be found in Kerala’s online shop here.
Additional Rasāyana include practices to increase Agni (fire) which, Ayurvedically, plays a key role in digestion, absorption, and separation of nutrients thereby contributing to the quality and strength of the Dhātus. Digestion of ginger, a common cooking herb, is helpful in increasing Agni in addition to Amla which serves to pacify imbalances in all Doshas while providing one of the world’s richest sources of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Garlic, another common cooking herb, is known to improve the flow of rasa to all other Dhātus.
Yoga asanas and pranayama practices are other methods of maintaining the vitality of Agni through energizing postures such as Virabhadrasana (warrior), Utkatasana (chair), and other activating Asanas. Beneficial Pranayama includes Kapalbhati (shining skull) and Ujjayi (victorious) breathing.
Mind Care for Staying Sharp & Calm
From a mind perspective, The Hatha Yoga Pradipika states, "When the breath wanders, the mind becomes unsteady. And when the breath is still, the mind becomes tranquil." One important aspect of the mind is Manas, the sense perceiver which accounts for all senses. One of the major goals of both Yoga and Ayurvedic practice is to maintain a Sattvic state which is a notable aspect of aging gracefully throughout all stages of life. Sattva is a state of purity, illumination, and goodness which is a balanced state outside of the action and energy of Rajas and the inertia and heaviness of Tamas. Both Rajas and Tamas lead to imbalance whereas Sattva leads to a state of clarity, mental serenity, calmness, and embodiment.
One of the main practices for balancing our mental-emotional state is the practice of Yoga Nidra, a practice of conscious yogic sleep that removes stress and anxiety, facilitates calmness of mind, relaxes and rejuvenates the nervous system. Yoga nidra allows one to gain clarity on emotional patterns and experiences which offers new perspectives as we age and progress in life. These aspects are not only beneficial for our own mind and well-being, but also for nurturing relationships personally and communally, as we learn to show up fully present, leading with empathy, compassion, and loving-kindness.
Spiritual Care & Exploration
Caring for ourselves spiritually as we age means exploring a connection to something greater with openness and curiosity. Vaidya. Jayarajan Kodikannath, Kerala Ayurveda USA's CEO states it simply: “Just believe in something bigger than yourself, whatever that may be.” Some may believe in a God, some in a universal energy, some in nature or beyond. Whatever it is, seek something that gives you a sense of connection and oneness whether that’s secular or religious.
Spiritual connection is an important determinant of human health and flourishing. This connection can be discovered through contemplative practices that allow us to turn inward and reflect, including meditation and prayer, or through exploring your Dharma or purpose throughout the evolution of your life. On this path of exploration and discovery, many may find deep meaning in intentionally passing on one’s knowledge, wisdom, and learnings to younger generations so they may gain new perspectives as they dive into the discovery of who they are, what they value, and how they want to live their lives and the impact they wish to make on the world.
In summary, Ayurveda offers you bountiful practices for healthy, happy, graceful aging through methods of personal care meant to optimize your well-being at all levels of mind, body, and spirit. These methods, when practiced with sincerity and consistency can shift the trajectory of aging from one of ongoing deterioration to one in which we live with vitality and ease throughout our lifetime, something all of us deserve!
References:
Alok S, Jain SK, Verma A, Kumar M, Mahor A, Sabharwal M. Plant profile, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari): A review. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 2013 Jun;3(3):242–51. doi: 10.1016/S2222-1808(13)60049-3. PMCID: PMC4027291.
Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Ramalingam Chidambaram. Study of Phytochemicals, Functional Groups and Minerals in Asparagus racemosus Root. Asian J of Chemistry. 2019. 31(7): 1546-1548. Doi: 10.14233/ajchem.2019.22032.
