Yoga and Mindfulness for Successful Aging: An Indigenous Life Course Perspective From South Asia

TL;DR

This paper explores the origins and concepts of yoga and mindfulness in South Asia and their role in successful aging, highlighting differences in how these practices are understood and applied in the West.

Contribution

The paper introduces an indigenous perspective on yoga and mindfulness concepts like 'ichha mrutyu' and critiques the theoretical grounding of these practices in successful aging research.

Findings

The paper identifies a gap in theoretical rigor in measuring yoga and mindfulness effects on aging.

It discusses the concept of 'ichha mrutyu' as a unique Eastern perspective on successful aging.

The paper highlights how Western adoption of these concepts may lead to misinterpretations and gaps in research.

Abstract

Research on yoga and mindfulness-based interventions have focused on the positive impact of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions on health, wellbeing and successful aging. However, some researchers have simultaneously cautioned about weak effects and/or lack of evidence about the effectiveness of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions and the decline in the adoption of yoga and mindfulness as alternative therapies. A major gap in the literature is a lack of critique about the basic concepts and theoretical considerations, as the variables used to measure these concepts need to be grounded in theoretical rigor. In this paper, the authors will examine the history and key concepts of yoga and mindfulness from an indigenous perspective from the Indian sub-continent where these methods originated, along with a discussion on how it contributes to successful aging. Specifically, yoga of immortals from a life course perspective and the concept of “ichha mrutyu” (living a full and healthy life and leaving the body when one has finished living a full and healthy life in a manner and at a time of one’s own choosing – not to be confused with euthanasia) versus death (where one has no control) will be discussed. Simultaneously, the authors will examine how these concepts have been adopted in the West and the gaps that arise from this translation of these conceptualizations from East to West. Consequently, the validity and vigor of research, teaching and practice of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions for successful aging will be strengthened.