O.N.E. Yoga: Healthy Aging Course:  Working with Balance, Strength and Flexibility.

Let’s explore this important topic  HEALTH!

Define Health:   “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The bibliographic citation for this definition is: Preamble to the Constitution of WHO as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19 June – 22 July 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of WHO, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948. The definition has not been amended since 1948.

Define Ageing: “Ageing is the process of becoming older, in humans, aging represents the accumulation of changes over time, encompassing physical, psychological, and social changes. “

Most people feel younger or older than they really are – and this ‘subjective age’ has a big effect on one’s physical and mental health.

As of 2020, the number of people aged 60 and older outnumbers children younger than five years.

A longer life brings with it opportunities, not only for older people and their families, but also for societies as a whole. Additional years provide the chance to pursue new activities such as further education, a new career or pursuing a long neglected passion. Older people also contribute in many ways to their families and communities. Yet the extent of these opportunities and contributions depends heavily on one factor: health.

Now, what we know and studies have confirmed If people can experience these extra years of life in good health and if they live in a supportive environment, their ability to do the things they value will be little different from that of a younger person. If these added years are dominated by declines in physical and mental capacity, the implications for older people and for society are more negative.

Although some of the variations in older people’s health are genetic, much is due to people’s physical and social environments – including their homes, neighborhoods, and communities, as well as their personal characteristics – such as their sex, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Maintaining healthy behaviors throughout your life, particularly eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and refraining from tobacco use and excess alcohol use all contribute to reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases and improving physical and mental capacity.

Behaviors continue to remain important in older age, perhaps even more so. Strength training to maintain muscle mass and good nutrition can both help to preserve cognitive function, delay care dependency, and reverse frailty. In the last few decades, studies have confirmed that Yoga can contribute to strength maintenance and building, flexibility and balance.

The WHO in 2018, generated a statement demonstrating a renewed commitment to Healthy Ageing.  The pursuit of global health requires awareness of the value of Healthy Ageing and sustained commitment and action to formulate evidence-based policies that strengthen the abilities of older persons.

I want to congratulate you for making this commitment to yourself by your visiting of my blog pages; and I hope that together we can make a difference in your health and your aging experience.