Yoga has long been associated with numerous health benefits, but could it also be the key to a long life? According to centenarian Daisy Taylor from Chelmsford, England, the answer is yes.
On her 105th birthday, Taylor revealed in a recent interview with the BBC that she credits her longevity and good health to her regular practice of yoga, as well as her optimistic outlook and appreciation for life’s small pleasures. Despite her age, she continues to practice yoga, albeit more often in a chair than on a mat.
Taylor is not alone in her belief that yoga contributes to a long and healthy life. Many of the world’s most renowned yoga practitioners have lived well into their later years.
Take B.K.S Iyengar, for instance. Despite being given only a few years to live in his childhood due to various illnesses, he discovered yoga and dedicated himself to practicing for ten hours a day. He not only survived but thrived, living to the age of 95.
His teacher, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who founded vinyasa yoga, lived to the age of 100. Another one of Krishnamacharya’s famous students, Krishna Pattabhi Jois, who developed Ashtanga yoga, lived to be 93.
Research has shown that yoga offers a myriad of benefits for individuals of all ages, particularly in combatting age-related diseases by reducing blood pressure, blood fat levels, and obesity. Additionally, yoga has been linked to alleviating depression, stress, and anxiety, as well as promoting a healthier lifestyle through improved diet.
Yoga and Ageing
Studies suggest that yoga may have a profound impact on the ageing process at a cellular level. Research has shown that individuals who practice yoga exhibit a significant increase in telomerase activity, an enzyme that plays a key role in slowing down cell ageing.
Furthermore, experienced yogis have demonstrated the ability to lower their metabolism to levels akin to hibernating animals, leading to decreased heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. This state of rest has been linked to increased lifespan in animals, with some speculating a similar effect in humans.
Yoga has also been shown to support cognitive health in older adults. Brain imaging studies have revealed that long-term yoga practitioners have larger brain mass, particularly in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory formation. Additionally, meditation, a core component of yoga, has been found to increase brain mass and promote a younger brain age.
Research indicates that individuals who engage in yoga or meditation exhibit better fluid intelligence, the ability to solve new problems and learn new information, compared to non-practitioners of the same age group.
Longevity and Yoga
While there is no direct evidence proving that yoga directly prolongs life, studies have suggested a link between yoga practice and reduced mortality risk. One study found that individuals who practiced yoga had a significantly lower risk of death compared to non-practitioners. However, this difference disappeared when age was factored into the analysis.
Ultimately, while yoga may not increase longevity per se, it undeniably contributes to overall health and mental well-being as individuals age. For Daisy Taylor and many others, yoga has played a vital role in fostering a healthy and fulfilling life, free from the fear of ageing.
Holger Cramer, Professor, Research in Complementary Medicine, University of TĂĽbingen
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here.
