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People have a will to
survive, a desire to live a long and meaningful life. While there
are certain things we can't control, there are many that we can.
From little things like wearing a seatbelt to eating a piece of
fruit, many of us have the keys to our own survival in our hands.
And, most of the time, engaging in a few of these life preserving
acts is sure to keep us afloat for a little bit longer than usual.
Daily Workouts
You don't have to be a fitness expert to know that regular exercise
can increase physical health. But, as it adds weight to muscle mass
and adds strength to the cardiovascular system, it also makes one of
the most important additions of all: years to life.
A recent study at the Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center
surveyed and tested over 5,000 men and women, finding that those who
engaged in exercise - running, aerobics, yoga - almost daily added
up to 3.7 years to their life. This was largely due to the fact that
exercising decreased stress and interrupted the development of heart
disease, the leading killer of Americans.
Not Smoking
We all know that smoking is bad, with "No Smoking" signs recently
evolving into more of a life saving plea than a simple suggestion.
However, for those who have routinely engaged in use of tobacco,
quitting can still sustain life, allowing longevity to butt in.
US and Canadian Researchers recently found that even after the onset
of tobacco induced lung diseases, quitting smoking can still
increase lifespan, adding up to five years. This was based on the
findings that the mortality rate of middle-aged heavy smokers was
cut in half once they decided to extinguish their cigarettes, and
their habit.
Yoga, because it produces many of the calming affects of nicotine,
while teaching you discipline, perseverance, self-awareness, and
allowing your body to be a conveyor of positive emotions, has
actually helped smokers quit.
Owning Pets
Dogs may truly be man's best friend. They are loyal, happy, and
rarely borrow things without returning them. And, going beyond the
call of a "true friend," they also increase a person's life.
Several studies have shown that owning a pet lowers a person's blood
pressure, increases self-esteem in children, decreases the mortality
rates of heart attack victims, decreases cholesterol, decreases
depression, relieves stress, and increases family happiness. Pets
also make people, particularly younger people, more likely to
participate in extracurricular activities. On a whole, research
predicts that those who own pets will outlive those who don't by an
average of seven years.
Eating Wisely
Eating wisely may seem like an improbable goal, with eating poorly
often cheaper and more convenient. But, eating wisely doesn't have
to be that hard. All it takes is a little planning, a little
discipline, and little portions when the food is unhealthy.
Because most things are good in moderation, eating healthy doesn't
mean you can never indulge in a piece of pie or a fast food
hamburger; all it involves is eating fruits, vegetables, fish, and
fiber most of the time, and making lapses in food judgment only
occasionally.
Eating dark chocolate and drinking red wine in moderation, as recent
studies have shown, may even increase your lifespan. This is because
both contain ingredients that have a positive affect on the heart
and the arteries.
Having Good Friends
Human beings have an innate desire to be needed and be wanted.
Because of this, having friends and close confidants can increase a
person's well being, and their life. The reasons for this lie in the
fact that friends and partners are people we can use to reduce
stress, boredom, and sadness.
This seems to be particularly true for older people. An Australian
study involved researching 1400 elderly men and women for a period
of ten years. The findings concluded that those who had the most
close friends ended up living the longest.
Laughing
The phrase "Laughter is the best medicine" may seem like little more
than an old saying. But, like many old sayings, this one seems to
have a bit of truth.
Studies indicate that laughter is a natural medicine, with the
ability to decrease stress-related hormones. Laughing also possesses
many of the physical and mental benefits of yoga, making it seem
like yogic training for your funny bone. The benefits laughter
offers include boosting the immune system, regulating blood
pressure, increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to muscles and
organs, and internal massaging.
Being Nice and Positive
Oftentimes, situations are merely what we think that are. If we
think they are dire, then that thinking makes them so. Because of
this, being positive and cheerful, and maintaining an optimistic
outlook, can add years to life and life to years. Being nice, when
it comes to life, does make you finish last, lasting longer than
those who aren't.
Recently, two studies were conducted that found older men with angry
and hostile personalities more likely to die before those who
engaged in an unhealthy lifestyle of smoking and drinking. Along
these lines, the second study revealed that those who were giving,
helpful, and cooperative with others had a 60 percent chance of
outliving those who were selfish and antisocial.
Meditating
Meditation, an activity practiced often in yoga, has been indicated
as a factor that can prolong life, health, and happiness. While
disregarded as an important aspect in the early years, over the past
few decades, meditation has gained ground in the healthcare
profession as an activity that can greatly reduce both stress and
pain.
Among the things meditation is thought to do is lower biochemical
components of stress, lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, and
facilitate positive emotions to the brain. Along these lines,
meditation also helps stabilize the immune system, keeping it from
being susceptible to illnesses and infections.
From an emotional standpoint, meditation allows people to focus on
their minds and their inner beings, arming them with the
self-awareness and the mental clarity that is needed to keep us all
healthy.
Taking Time to Relax
It can be hard on the hectic road of life to pull over and relax.
But, making a point to do so just might make your journey a little
longer. Relaxation, because it relieves stress, and tension - two
things that take both a physical and emotional toll - is a great way
to keep yourself healthy in mind, body, and spirit.
Relaxation, because it is a calming activity, decreases blood
pressure and a person's susceptibility to heart disease. By
implementing certain ways of thinking and perceiving things, it
helps people to use positive powers and life forces to deal with
stress and the roadblocks life may put in place.
Doing Yoga
The majority of above mentioned ways to increase life have a common
theme: reducing stress adds years to life. The reasons for this
range from stress impacting the strain on the heart to stress making
people less likely to engage in positive, life affirming activities.
Because of this yoga, a practice that can greatly influence stress
levels, can be a major partner in increasing the length of your
life.
Yoga isn't simply exercise; it's not a practice that is solely
fitness based. Instead, yoga encapsulates activities such as
breathing, meditation, self-reflection, and mindfulness, a program
that helps you train your brain to focus on the present moment. It
also improves the flow of blood and oxygen to organs and muscles,
allowing them to function properly and allowing your mind to be
enriched with clarity. All of these work together to make you more
relaxed, freeing your body of physical tension and emotional stress.
Yoga, additionally, because it is so focused on self awareness,
empowers those who take it to not only take charge of their exercise
routine, but take charge of their life, leaving them more likely to
partake in activities filled with health. Taking yoga may be the
first step in making a point to laugh, meditate, take time to relax,
and engage in all of the activities that can add years to your life
and life to your years.
About us: TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for
Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado. Twisted integrates
osteopathic medicine, Hatha yoga and mindfulness practices to teach
optimal balance between physical, mental, and emotional health. It
aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life from the
inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment
regime for the whole being, empowering each person one breath at a
time to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential.
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