Kayakalpa: Celebration of Life Part 3 of 3

Can we do things that can impact our very DNA in such a way that it slows down ageing? And can that be some day to day stuff? Let’s find out.

Transcript

There is another aspect of ageing connected with our genes. As the cells divide in the womb, different genes get activated in different cells. That is how some cells develop into bone, some into the kidneys, some the fingers, some the eyes. This is because thought the genetic code in each cell is the same. The genes that get activated in the cells of the fingers are different from the set of genes that get activated to form the eyes, to create the different formations of the whole body. 

And as we age, what happens is that all the genes get activated randomly everywhere. The genes of the lungs might get activated in the liver for example. This also causes rapid ageing and in this research, it was fond that the there are around seven anti-ageing genes in our chromosomes. If these get activated, they go about clipping and cleaning the genes that are wrongly activated and these age reversing genes are activated by certain molecules that are released by certain foods we eat. For example red wine has a molecule called resveretrol that activates the anti-ageing genes.

Another study was done at the John Hopkins University, where they found that fasting has the effect of triggering the production of certain protiens in the stem cells of the brain called neurotropic factors. This enhances the ability of the neurons to cope with stress and resist ageing.

It stimulates anti-oxidant defences, promotes clearance of molecular garbage, enhances DNA repair and reduces inflammation. This has the effect of slowing down the ageing process of the brain and protects the brain from succumbing to age related diseases lie Alzheimer’s and it was found that the same effect is produced by regular exercise.

So we have seen from all these researches that if we can work on eliminating stress, consume certain beneficial foods, cut down on many foods that are not really needed by the body, undergo cleansing routines as the old man did before his KayaKalpa. He did Panchkarma which is part of Auurveda. In Yoga we have powerful cleansing techniques called Kriya, detox foods and drinks also work. If we did all this and if we change the pattern of our eating which is mostly three meals a day plus many snacks and drinks thrown in, cut it down to sane levels and also do regular exercise. These can combine to having a powerful effect on the ageing process.

To this we can also add the effects of sleep, again, during a good night’s sleep, a hormone called melatonin is produced in the pineal gland of the brain. This is a powerful anti-ageing hormone, melatonin is produced just by the complete absence of light. That is why it is important to sleep with not even the light of the mobile phone to disturb. When we sleep in a complete dark room, even irregular periods in women and hormonal imbalances can be brought to balance.

So when we are talking about anti-ageing, we are not talking here about reversing it to live three hundred years. Though as we have seen, it is possible. We are here talking about improving the healthy periods of our lives, which means we can address the health and age of every single organ of the body and every single cell and we can do this through very simple choices and actions that leave a deep impact at the molecular level. Because only if we can work at this level, that we can scientifically approach anti-ageing.

We can slow down the ageing process. This approach is called gerontology. We can attack symptoms, this is called geriatrics. Like a ninety year old’s age related flu is treated like it a regular flu or we can look at the approach of regeneration. This third approach is being talked about a lot these days and KayaKalp has always been about this approach.

We look at all knowledge as belonging to two streams. The stream of the ancients, who at one point in history, before even the last ice age were spread all over the world, the Egyptians, the Mayans, certain  tribes of Africa, in the steppes, China, Mongolia, the aborigines, the Tibetans and the Yogis  and Siddhas of the Indian sub-continent and also the adepts of the Unani system of medicine who owe their knowledge to the Sufis and the alchemists of Baghdad, from this knowledge of the ancients comes Rasayana or Alchemy, Ayurveda and KayaKalpa which recognised that the ageing process begins in the womb itself and so what will work is not instant spa treatments and specialised emergency routines but a whole lifestyle that is regenerative in nature and a way of life that is knowledge driven, not the knowledge of books but the knowledge that comes from embracing life with zest, with positivity. So this is where a value system, prayer, compassion and yoga allow us to learn to love and celebrate life and develop an organic relationship with nature that is all-around us as well as inside us and we begin to benefit from being sensitive to all that is happening inside and outside.

We begin to develop an appetite to engage with every aspect of our lives; how to go to sleep well, how should the mattress be, the lighting, temperature, clean linen, what kind of a soft alarm should we use, what time to wake up, how to wake up, a waking up routine. Swar yoga teaches you to recognise nostril dominance and how to make smart choices in every action we do, what to eat, when, how much. In accordance to the climate, the region of the earth we are living in, the time of the year. This is not about becoming an encyclopaedia but just tuning in to nature through which this knowledge is more of a personal download that each can make.

When we say KayaKalp, the example of the old man marrying the princess is possible. There are those ancients in the hills and jungles with that kind of knowledge but here we are talking about a way of life that is in itself KayaKalp.

In the course of life, the damages that naturally occur due to metabolism of our cells are the following, cell loss, rogue cells which can cause havoc which are there in all but a healthy body has a strong immune system to neutralise them. Mutations or spontaneous deformities that occur inside the different structures of the cells like the mitochondria which is the battery of every cell  and waste that accumulate in the cells that cause rapid ageing.

So now that we have seen what ageing is. Let’s see what exactly is the definition of  Kaya Kalpa.

‘Kaya’ means body. ‘Kalpa’ is a multi-layered couplex word. But understanding its many nuances will help us understand the true scope of KayaKalpa better. ‘Kalpa’ means transformation according to the laws of nature so here it is about understanding how the processes of nature work.

It is also ‘alternative’, when we have symptoms, we may need to look for alternative ways of life. Therefore it also means investigation into the problem and resolution including the determination to get to the solution.

Kalpa also means treatment of the sick, a manner of curing, the art of preparing medicines, the doctrine of poisons and antidotes.

Kalpa is related to the word ‘kalpana’ which means imagination, conception. So the act of kalpa is wishing, desiring, dreaming for something and in this case it is for regaining youthfulness, vitality and vigour, a fertile and fruitful life, a life of enjoyment and full functionality.

Kalpa is also an aeon, a large length of time and so it implies longevity and immortality. Indeed among the legends among the alchemists, there are those who have supposed to have achieved immortality. 

KayaKalpa is therefore, the wish for, dreaming of, desiring a body. Implying that the term would be used for those who have lost their youthfulness. Not necessarily a very aged person who would like to get their youth back, it is for those in their thirties or even twenties who are burnt out at work, living a fast paced life in the rat race. It could also be for someone who is recuperating from a major illness or from an accident. It could also mean rejuvenation for one who has got despondent in life. Someone going through a tough phase for a long time and for people with chronic health problems.

If we closely analyse the life-span of a human being, we are currently in a phase of evolution where the life expectancy of a human being is increasing. While in even in the most developed nations, life expectancy at the turn of the eighteenth century was between 30 to 40 years, today even in the least developed countries, life expectancy is 55 to 60 years. In countries like Japan, it’s now 90 years. Out of these 90 years, 65 years are the healthy years and the remaining twenty-five years are spent in disability from ageing where many kinds of disease drastically reduce the quality of life. The idea of KayaKalpa is if we can make all those ninety years the healthy span and not just healthy but rocking.

Can the number of healthy disease-free years be increased? Can the number of years with disease be reduced? What if one can live all of the 90 years disease free and healthy with great levels of energy and enthusiasm to have an active vigorous physical life, to enjoy all the pleasures and joys of youth till we are ninety?

Let us leave you with a scene. Imagine a wise man 102 years old. He is not in his arm chair but playing basketball with his great-grandchildren, competing hard with them in the afternoon. Coming back to cook a delicious meal for his extended family of forty children, their spouses, their children and their spouses and their grandchildren and then going out on a date with his ninety five year old wife on a Harley Davidson, coming back to an evening by the pool side for some barbecue. The grand old man loves to play the saxophone, so between supervising the barbecue and personally serving his entire family tree, he is playing the saxophone and waking up next morning for a day long hike in the hills with the whole family. This is the vision of KayaKalpa. It’s about living a royal king sized life and the art and science of achieving it.

In the coming blogs, we will look at the many dimensions of the science of anti-ageing which we can apply in our daily lives. I hope you enjoyed listening to this blog.

Lots of Love

Bharat Thakur