Speakers - 2027

Title: The Struggle to Be Shatayu

Abstract

Indian sages celebrated the inner transformation that comes with age. In *60’s – Priorities change, In *70’s, Peace becomes strength, In *80’s – Presence becomes healing* In *90’s – Ego dissolves quietly*and in *100 – Life reaches completeness. These five turning points align with the traditional milestones of 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 years in Indian culture. Age is not weakness. Age is a process of refinement through which wisdom, gentleness, and grace remain. Growing older means becoming purer, wiser, and gentler in life.

Any age over 70 is usually considered old as most people over 70 are afflicted by many diseases, especially debilitating ones. Many are unable to walk, get up from a bed or chair without assistance. No one “easily “reaches 90, but reaching 90 is not important!  Healthy ageing is most important, and it means to be fit and healthy as long as we live. I know 5 people who hit century, 15 people in their 90’s, and about 100 friends, medical school cohorts and relatives who are in their 80’s, including myself at83 and another 100 over 70’s fit and healthy. The story of their healthy ageing is the essence of this presentation.

This presentation/ article is inspired by the author attending a celebration of 100th birthday of a lady - distant relative on 4th July 2026. Then author recalled the lives of 3 persons celebrated centurions, ten of senior relatives, friends & colleagues in their 90’s, at least 100 (medical college cohorts or office colleagues, relatives, and friends) acquaintances in their 80’s, 50 in their seventies and 25 in their 60’s (junior colleagues, relatives and apartment health ageing seniors group members. Basically, article does a SWOT analysis of the observed health status, linking to their lifestyles, exercises, diet, sleeping habits, socialization religious and cultural involvements and trends of deterioration or maintenance of health through interactions as qualitative research. The presentation concludes that:                                     

i) Stopping muscle loss in old age is an incredibly tough process due to natural body deterioration. However, it is possible to slow down the process by engaging in physical activities, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, & maintaining our hormonal balance.

ii) First everyone must practice exercising regularly, which will slow down the process of muscles deterioration significantly, though cannot prevent muscles losing strength. Exercise is a source of stress for our body, as it stimulates body to produce more muscle cells.

iii) Second, our diet plays a huge role, as protein is a basic building block for our muscles. Instead of standard of 1g/Kg body weight elders must consume 1.5G/Kg body weight daily.