The passing of time

Half of 2006 has just vanished - where I don't exactly know? (Does anyone?) It has made me think of my age - mid-50s...

And yesterday I came across a book The New Yoga for people over 50

I found two remarkable quotes in the excerpt they carry on Amazon asserting that physical age is not as daunting as one imagines when pushing up towards 60. A dear friend of mine once got involved with a zany group who believed in physcial immortality - until their friends starting popping their clogs.

The quotes are below. The pictures are (above) from Vigeland Sculpture Park in Helsinki by the eponymous Gustav and Goya below. The sculpture seems to be a vision of old age as something robust - even a feeling of defiance that it should be taking its toll. Definitely a couple of yogis.

Goya's vision is more frightening a feeling of falling into a petty, recriminating, helpless old age.

"We need to change our idea of what aging is. If I know my biological potential is 130 years, then I don't consider myself middle-aged until I'm 65... One of the great principles of mind/body medicine is that expectancies determine outcome. If you expect to remain strong in old age, you will."

Deepak Chopra, Ageless body, timeless mind



Advanced age is not a static, irreversible biological condition of unwavering decrepitude. Rather it's a dynamic state that, in most people, can be changed for the better no matter how many years they lived or neglected their bodies in the past - Yes, you do have a second chance to right the wrong you've committed against your body. Your body can be rejuvenated. You can regain vigour, vitality, muscular strength and aerobic endurance you thought were gone forever... this is possible whether you're middle-aged or pushing 80. The 'markers' of biological aging can be more than altered: in the case of specific physiological functions, they can actually reversed.

- William Evans: Biomarkers, the 10 keys to Prolonging Vitality