Yoga for Longevity: How an ancient practice can help you live healthier and longer
Agarwal MD, Shashi K.
Synopsis "Yoga for Longevity: How an ancient practice can help you live healthier and longer"
Is 120 years the maximum a human can live? Jeanne Calment of France, died at the record-setting age of 122 in 1997 - however, of the 108 billion or so humans ever born, "only a few have ever lived beyond age 110. How long will you live? Humans lived for only 35 years or so during the Neolithic Age (around 9,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C) and Bronze Age (around 3000 to 1000 B.C.). In the mid-1800's, the average lifespan was still only about 40 years. This gradually increased to about 47 years in the year 1900. Today the life expectancy for females is 81.2 years and for males 76.4 years (in developed countries). It is projected that in the year 2050, women would live to be 89 to 94, while men will live to be 83 to 86. (in the USA). But these numbers may have to be revised downwards - data suggests that lifespan in the USA has fallen for a second year in a row - primarily due to an increasing adoption of detrimental lifestyles. It is estimated that only 3% of the Americans lead good lifestyles. A healthy lifestyle has shown to increase life expectancy by up to seven years - and many more years can probably be achieved. Genetic code dependent inheritance is responsible for 25% -35% in our ability to delay aging and living longer. Although humans have been unable to alter the genetic sequence, yoga practice can upregulate or downregulate genetic expression - effectively altering the functionality of the genetic code. This yoga induced beneficial 'epigenetic' effect is heritable - maybe up to four generations. Our progeny can therefore expect to live healthier and longer, due to our early age yoga practice. In other words, yoga even keeps your offspring healthy for several generations! Environmental and lifestyle factors contribute almost 65%-75% towards our longevity. Yoga practitioners gravitate towards better living and working conditions and tend to lead healthier lifestyles. Yoga practice triggers extensive bio-neuro-hormonal changes in our bodies - preserving and stimulating telomerase activity and preventing attrition in the chromosomal telomere length. This reflects genomic stability and predicts a delay in aging and age-related diseases - and grants you the desired jackpot: a significant life-extension. And finally, most yoga practitioners report increased happiness and additional serenity permeating their lives - a tertiary improvement in life span. A regular practice of yoga will not only add 'years' to your 'health span' (years without disability) and 'life span' (years actually lived) but also add 'life' to your 'emotional span' (years lived in happiness). This book not only highlights the evidence-based data attesting to the longevity potential inherent in the practice of yoga, but also provides a comprehensive yoga routine - several asanas, breathing exercises and meditation techniques, along with simple yogic methods of bringing peace, happiness and spirituality in your life.
