Ageing with Health and Vitality - Or Not?

Chronic Disease and Ageing in Ireland Are we humans ageing with health and vitality? Chronic non-communicable diseases are responsible for 74% of deaths Worldwide! Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Neurodegenerative diseases, Autoimmune diseases, Diabetes, Respiratory Diseases..... and the situation is not getting better with time. In 2018, the Government's National Risk Assessment Report findings in relation to the health of the Nation's older population concluded that 60% of over 50year olds were suffering from at least one chronic condition. and 18% from two or more. It predicted that these figures would rise by 40% in the next decade. We are over halfway through that decade and with a Pandemic having further exacerbated the situation, I am sure these figures have probably been reached already.

Purpose, Value and Meaning

I have had a somewhat unusual life. I didn't follow the traditional path of many of my peers; school, college, profession etc. It was never my intention at the outset to veer off in seemingly polar opposite directions at times, but that is what I ended up doing. After three years as a post-graduate student in molecular biology, I swapped the lab for the theatre, and acted professionally for 16 years, before changing again in 2002 to become a full-time Yoga teacher. At first glance these may all seem completely unconnected, but I see them all as phases of learning about myself, and the world, that were necessary to help me reach my true purpose. All three are related to helping people; through research to understand how we work as an organism, through acting to explore emotional connection, which lies at the heart of being human and, in Yoga, through discovering and optimising our complete nature, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

I am lucky. I have met influential teachers in all three phases of my life, who inspired me to always question, to look for truth, to live life as a constant exploration. I remember a phrase I heard the great playwright, Frank McGuinness, use to describe his creative impulse. He said it was, 'The absolute necessity to record the beating of the human heart.' This struck a chord with me that has resonated ever since. I want to understand the full potential of being human; body, heart, intellect and soul. This drive is what gives purpose, value and meaning to my life each day. In this I am truly blessed.

Having this motivation, this why, is hugely important. Why do I want to live a long and healthy life? For my family, for my work, to learn and experience more, to express the full potential of this lifetime, and to share this with as many people as possible. The world needs us to do this, because as much as we as individuals are becoming sicker and more dysfunctional, the more we are creating a sicker and dysfunctional society. If we are to leave our children's children any sort of a world worth living in, it has to start with us doing the work on ourselves. Find your own why, and it will give you the drive to succeed.

An n = 1 Experiment

Ageing with health and vitality is not uncommon in certain populations around the globe. The so-called Blue Zones have a particularly high proportion of nonagenarians and centenarians, who remain fit and active into these ripe old ages. Common factors contributing to their healthy ageing are diet, exercise, being in nature and being part of a community. We, by contrast, are prone to over-consumption of less healthy food and drink, are becoming more and more isolated, sedentary and less and less well as we age.

In the world of scientific research, the number of participants in a study is called 'n'. For many years now, Paula and I have been carrying out our personal 'studies', in which we were the only participant. We were 'n = 1' experiments.  While as a scientist such a study is inadequate to extrapolate to others, our subjective experience convinces me that everyone can take control of their own healthy ageing. What we have found, is that using Yoga (and other exercise modalities), ayurvedic principles of nutrition, stress-reduction methods, including breathwork and meditation, has had a profound impact on our wellbeing, energy, and joy in living. We certainly seem to be ageing with health and vitality.

We are not doing anything radical, and the tools we use are available to everyone. It takes a little effort in the beginning to establish positive habits and to not let ourselves be duped into the belief that we haven't got the time to give to ourselves to improve our nutrition, to take appropriate exercise, to de-stress effectively, to sleep. In short, to live, to enjoy living! Don't, please, ever say to yourself, 'It's too late for me' or 'I couldn't do that.' You can and you should. Again, look closely at it and see 'Why' you should and that really helps. Live not just to work, or be a parent or a partner, or a carer, but live consciously and joyfully, and at the same time, do and be all those things, because you have the energy to do so. Simple truth is: You are no good to anyone burnt out, or sick, or dead.

Regenerate - A path to ageing with health and vitality

As American journalist, Andy Rooney, said so tellingly, 'It is paradoxical that the idea of a long life appeals to everyone but the idea of ageing appeals to no one. ' This has led to a rise in efforts by billionaires to discover an elixir of youth, or more prosaically, to cosmetic surgery, fillers and botox! None of these prevent ageing. rather, they are like putting on a mask. Wouldn't it be so much better to find out how to age with health and vitality, with grace and wisdom, with the innate beauty of age. What can be overwhelming is not knowing what to do or where to start. There is an information overload in today's world, which is a stressor in itself. To address this difficulty, we have created a course on Biological Age Reversal - The Regenerate Course, in just six 3-hour modules. The Regenerate Course will not only give you all the tools and techniques of yoga and ayurveda, diet and lifestyle that we use every day, but will also show you the science behind how they work. This is particularly fun for me as it closes a circle and brings together all of the three phases of my life in one coherent whole. Maybe this is what I have spent the last 46 years preparing for. If you would like to find out more about this course, you can call David or Paula on 087 2376383, or by mail by CLICKING HERE. To read more about the Regenerate Course CLICK HERE.Live long and prosper!! Namaste, David.