Chronological Age Versus Biological Age

The saying goes you are only as old as you feel. In yoga we talk a lot about chronological age versus biological age. What does that even mean? Chronological age is easy that is your actual age, each year on your birthday you add another number and like it or not you are one year older. Your biological age is more related to that old quote how do you feel in relation to your actual age?

I was recently working with a client and she said how she knows how old she is and looks at others her age but she feels so much younger then many of her peers look and act. She looks at her hands and can see the evidence that she has arthritis but doesn't feel any pain in her hands any longer. Her next comment was it must be the yoga. From her deep yoga practice her biological age is now younger then her chronological age, isn't that great! Isn't that how we all want to feel as we go through the inevitable aging process.

Unfortunately this all to often works the other way. I have seen people both young and old in my classes whose biological age is older then they really are. People with herniated disks, chronic pain and so much tension that they feel older then they are. Can yoga help them? Yes, it is true birthdays are going to come each year there is no stopping them. And nothing can turn back the clock and make you younger. There is no fountain of youth, but a weekly yoga class can help with these chronic tensions and help you to feel younger.

So when you hear the saying you are only as old as you feel, which way does your biological age go? Think about what age do you feel you are? If you feel much older then your actual age, start to think about why, is it a chronic illness, pain or stress? Is it something you can change? The style of yoga I teach Svaroopa ® is very healing and maybe it can help you feel as young as you want to be!

Svaroopa® is a registered service mark of S.T.C., inc Copyright© 2008 S.T.C. Inc., All Rights Reserved