Slow aging

Slow Aging is a philosophical approach to aging which encourages to savor the aging process, by optimizing one's chances of aging in good health and without disease. This phenomenon emphasizes adopting a ‘best practice’ way of approaching selfcare and actively promotes self awareness as one ages.
Historical and cultural background
The obsession with young looking skin is not a new phenomenon. The Chinese and ancient Egyptians were among the first to document their attempts to slow the aging process. They have noted the effects of certain types of herbs, mineral treatments, diet and exercise on the condition of the skin. But the study of anti aging techniques developed over thousands of years into a complex study of molecular biology, botany and even philosophical and psychological research. The ancient Egyptian dynasties promoted olive leaves were promoted as an anti aging remedy. The Vedic culture focused on diet and exercise as a means of halting the aging process, and on the Indian sub-continent, and Ayurvedic medicine concentrated on the youthful effects of Yoga, meditation and, once again, herbal remedies and anti aging potions and poultices.
Proposed strategies of slow aging
Slow aging is an attitude that promotes a philosophy and set of guiding principles to health and wellbeing as one ages. Aging is often inexorably linked with disease and decline, rather than being seen as an opportunity for growth and value. Slow Aging emphasizes that aging needs to be thought of as a positive rather than a negative factor. The concept of slow aging, suggests that old age can be productive, since it is built on the back of wisdom and skills accrued over many years. The phenomenon advises that life’s journey is a wonderful thing and something to be enjoyed.
'Slow' is about taking stock of where we are now and what we are, or aren’t doing, recognising our personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as our capacity to make real and lasting change. It is also about being realistic in health planning process; being clear about what one is prepared to do, when, and how, and understanding the consequences. Slow aging is underpinned by a ‘navigation model’ so one can make informed decisions that are right for him or her. This phenomenon suggests that an individual must recognize his or her personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as capacity to make changes.
The principles of slow aging
The Slow movement has developed as a counter to the amoral culture of fast food and mass production. This culture sees food, clothing, travel or even sex as an end in itself, with no additional function (i.e. it’s just sex, it’s just a pair of shoes). Slow is about finding the connections in any experience to allow us to savour its qualities. Different groups have used the SLOW acronym to highlight different issues. One of the best known Slow movements is Slow foods.
What is slow aging and how does it work?
Slow aging has the complementary goals of disease prevention and maintaining structure, function and quality of life. These aims are distinct from anti-aging practices, which propose to intervene in the processes of aging, with the goal of extending lifespan. It is reasonable to have expectations of technology and medicine. Over the last hundred years, lives have become healthier and longer, and more advances will be made in our lifetime. Yet the notion that aging may be controlled by a single pill or diet is naive. Aging is not even a wholly biological experience, but a complex change determined by environmental, behavioural, cultural, socioeconomic, as well as biological factors. As an analogy, it is now possible to contain the entire nutrient content of an apple in a tablet. While it may be chemically identical, it does not have the crunch of the first bite, the shine of the skin or the joy of picking it fresh from a tree. In the same way, health and aging are much more than biology or chemistry. A deeper understanding of health, disease and aging allows one to take rational steps to better support structure and function and maintain quality.
Slow solutions involve awareness and engagement
Slow is for people who are ‘awake’ to the benefits of choosing wisely and living in a state of wellbeing. This means assuming a degree of self-awarenessand making some effort to remain vigilant. It means taking a closer look inside our biology, as well as outside to the world we live in, to identify risks and strengths. It means taking a close look at what we eat and drink, our work, stress and activity, as though our choices will have a significant bearing on our future. Much of the discomfort and disease associated with aging are the result of choices we make or fail to make in earlier phases of our lives. Slow is about finding these connections and finding opportunities for every individual to merge understanding and awareness with a willingness to do what it takes to age well and keep at it for life.
The slow approach also seeks to educate - what, how, why and when. It helps to know more about the challenges one will face on the road (and there will be many over the journey of our lifetime). It means understanding the risks, options and possible results of different pathways.
Slow solutions have clear and realistic goals
Taking the long way home doesn’t mean you don’t know where you’re going, an aimless meander. Slow is not the easy option. It takes a good deal of strength and commitment. It is not enough to simply want quality of life or longevity as we age.
We need to be clear about what we’re prepared to do, when and how, and understand that the choices we make really matter. Slow solutions set objectives that match our personal goals and capabilities, goals that reinforce our actions. It is about taking stock of where we are now and being realistic about the health planning process. This takes organisation, as much as execution. In fact, the acronym could equally be used to describe planning that is:
# S = Strategic - becoming aware, investing time in planning and making the critical decisions required for us as individuals to slow the aging process.
# L = Long-term - to persist for a lifetime.
# O = Organised - implementing our plan against measurable objectives and investing effort into interventions that work for us.
# W = Wilful - unhurried actions are undertaken and choices are made with full consciousness of their nature and effects.
Slow solutions eliminate the negative
Slow aging seeks to redefine aging as a positive growth experience, rather than one inexorably linked with decrepitude, degeneration and decline. The anti-aging movement generally seeks to position ‘getting old’ as something to be avoided at all costs. It feeds on people’s fears and typically doesn’t provide real solutions. This is unrealistic and unnecessary. We want to slow aging, not fear it. Attitude is the single most important factor in healthy aging. A positive attitude drives healthy behaviour and gives us control over our lives. It can more than compensate for a number of other things that may be failing. Aging needs to be re-positioned as an experience of value, not only for ourselves as individuals, and our society. It is possible to LOVE the aging process, to re-frame aging as a positive experience and take control so we age with pleasure, resilience and growth.
There is always a certain guilt associated with poor health and disease. Did we cause this by something we did or didn’t do? Equally, in considering steps to prevent illness or aging, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that some suffering is the price of good health, the distasteful medicine we must swallow to get well. However, slow solutions are not punitive, they are a positive experience. For example, for a weight-loss diet to be successful in the long-term, it cannot be a punishment, it must be intrinsically rewarding. Similarly, good sleep, hygiene and exercise will effortlessly find their way into daily life when they come with their own rewards, such as the kick we get from waking up revitalised and refreshed. Additional reward comes from achieving control and related feedback. It is important for each individual to find their own incentives and rewards for any activity to be continued and its full benefits revealed.
Slow solutions are sustainable in the long-term
Slow solutions are long-term solutions for long-term problems. They are never a quick fix. They can be distinguished from fads that claim to achieve miracles in only six weeks! There is no point buying into diets, or joining a gym but rarely going, or getting good medical advice but only following part of it. We will only rebound and be left feeling less in control than ever. We’re in this life for the long- term. So whatever we do to slow the aging process, it must be something we can incorporate into our lives on an ongoing basis. Slow solutions are seldom more than good habits. That’s what makes them work so well! The desire and momentum to keep habits in place usually comes from the individual. Of course, it helps if we like it, we know why you we doing it, and it realistically fits in with our personal goals, our lifestyle and our environment. This makes it easy to keep at it until it simply becomes a good habit. This does not mean becoming angels or fanatics who do everything correctly all of the time. This will never be sustainable. Ultimately, practice makes perfect most of the time.
Slow solutions are not exclusive
The complex challenges that face the aging body and mind require complex multi-modal solutions that are most effective when used in combination. The key to slow aging is not an individual antioxidant, an exercise regime or eating five fruits and vegetables every day (although each may help). It is having a focus and understanding of the whole process and the options available. This leads to awareness and rational choices that sit right for each of us. This cannot be mass-produced. Slow aging covers all aspects of our health - physical, mental and spiritual. Each of us place a different emphasis on these elements and, over time, that emphasis may change. Slow practices don’t mean you can’t adjust. As new ideas and information emerges, some change may be necessary. When we understand we are in control and have the knowledge to make the right decisions, then change is both transforming and invigorating.
Slow solutions need support
A central theme to slow is that the individual must be at the core of the process, controlling key decisions. But even while we sit in the driver’s seat, it helps to have a navigator. There are many good practitioners available and the best of them are willing to act as health ‘coaches’, rather than simply demanding allegiance to their therapeutic strategies. It is valuable to use them to organise our thinking and explore the many options available to achieve our objectives. Don’t be afraid to look for knowledge from friends and family too. Sometimes they also want to know (and participate). Ultimately, the most successful program involves a strong relationship between the driver and navigator, whether they are a doctor, dietician, trainer, motivator, friend or family member.
Slow solutions do what’s right for you, Goldilocks
Once upon a time, there was young girl called Goldilocks. When approached with a challenge, she resolved to explore the alternatives, ultimately choosing the one that best suited her needs. When considering the many options available, it’s a good idea to take a leaf out of Goldilocks’ book. There is no one answer to aging. Some options may not work, but there will always be one that is right for us. A slow solution means choosing the RIGHT approach for ourselves in the RIGHT doses and at the RIGHT pace for our life, and sticking to it. It is about aging at the right speed for us as individuals.
Matching our needs to potential slow solutions occurs on many levels. Some of this comes from an awareness and understanding of our needs, skills and capabilities. If we don’t enjoy it, or if we feel it’s too risky for us, we’ll never keep at it. Another way to ‘match up’ is through the new technologies that help us target what is right for us.
Finally, getting the choices right also means getting FEEDBACK to provide some indication that we’re heading in the right direction. Is the way we’re aging now truly supporting us to be happy? Successes and failures in the course of any activity can be used to keep us on the right track and to set personal benchmarks. The more we understand ourselves, the easier it is to make the best decisions. Little bears need little bowls. Big bears need big beds. One size never fits all!
Criticism
It has been speculated by authors and beauty experts that specific interventions to promote healthy aging come in, and go out of fashion and what is believed to work now, may be proven incorrect in the next 20 years. Many have argued that the natural slow aging process techniques need to be most definitely supplemented with artificially manufactured beauty products in order to see the results and slow the aging process.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu