This morning the focus word for my meditation practice was “resilience,” which is our higher consciousness or true self. It is a place of no resistance and no anticipation—a place of calm. Meditation is such a good way to begin the day because it sets the tone for anything that may happen throughout the day and helps us to achieve a sense of calm to get us through, even the toughest encounters, which is so helpful in these stressful times.

In our September feature: “Growing Younger: Longevity Strategies That Help Reverse the Aging Process,” by Marlaina Donato looks at how healthy longevity, a human quest through the ages, is becoming increasingly attainable as the science advances, and today researchers say there has never been a better time in history to maximize our potential for metabolic renewal. By better understanding biological age—the state of our health at the cellular levels—researchers are fine-tuning dietary, sleep, relaxation and exercise requirements that turn back the clock. Compounds such as B3, the enzyme SIRT6 found in bladder wrack, and fisetin, a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, all play key roles. Reducing uric acid levels lowers inflammation and stem cell procedures can offer an alternative to joint replacement.

Fit Body: “Aging Gracefully: How a Yoga Practice Keeps Us Young,” by Maya Whitman “I love seeing students realize what is possible,” said Tao Porchon-Lynch, the world’s oldest yoga teacher, shortly before her death at 101. That spirit of discovery epitomizes the use of yoga for its life-extending attributes. Whether it involves getting down on a mat or practicing modified poses with the use of a chair, yoga helps us stay nimble, manage stress, reduce symptoms of depression and tame high blood pressure. It helps build the essential physical skills for navigating aging—strength, flexibility, balance and agility—and it doesn’t have to involve pricey gear or be the most intense form of yoga to be effective. Gentle, chair and even wheelchair yoga all have study-proven benefits.

Inspiration: “Living Life in Full Color,” by Marlaina Donato. At this time of year, in many parts of the world, nature saves her best for last. She dresses the trees in unapologetic glory, inviting us to live more boldly before it’s too late, to express the passions we’ve held in for dear life. Autumn gives us much-needed permission to let our hair down, to let our locks go silver or feisty red, to let our souls blow in the wind and come in for dinner a little late and disheveled.

About 5 months ago I stopped coloring my hair. It’s been a struggle because it’s been the same color since I was in my 30’s. I just felt it was time for me to let it go natural—always looking for ways to simplify life, which for me is calming.

To conscious living,
Pamela Gallina, Publisher