Yoga & Longevity

[Guest guest]

Judging from actual results, and not mere theory

.. . . is there anything out promising longevity

that's better than, or even equal to, a dedicated yoga

practice?<br><br>Krishnamacharya lived to 100. KPJ and BKS both demonstrate

remarkable youthfulness in their 80s.<br><br>Don't know much

about Deshikachar (sp?), but he seems pretty

spry.<br><br>Swami Satchidananda of Yogaville demonstrated

phenomenal youthfulness; to me moved about like someone at

least 40 years younger. He's in his 80s now as

well.<br><br>Most yoga teachers that I've met look far younger than

they are.

[Guest guest]

i have to agree, something about the yogic life

minimizes the effects that most of the rest of us attribute

to aging. while guruji does have typical skin

changes like "sunspots", etc. that come with time, he has

nary a facial wrinkle. his skin has better tone than

mine. i was watching him move throught the crowded gym

early in the workshop. he sort of tripped over the

extended foot of someone while moving in the other

direction to make an adjustment. i kind inhaled in

apprehension. the average 86 year old who trips is going down

for a faceplant and possible fractured wrist, hip or

skull. he just kind of made a slight hop to get his

balance and moved right on the way he was going without

even looking down--probably with more grace than i

would have managed. it may not seem like much but i've

got some older family, about 15 yrs younger than he

and i was amazed. as far as what he does for

practice, he touched on this at the Q&A session i went to (

i think they called it a dharsa, ?sp.). he noted

that mainly he does his pranayama several times

through the day and he does his chanting and meditation.

i don't recall him commenting on whether he ever

does asanas but he implied that it does not play much

of a role in what he currently does