The 9 secrets to defying aging
The secret to defying aging may have more to do with sharpening the mind than toning the body. "The very first thing that comes to mind [in terms of defying age] is keeping a positive mindset and attitude," says Tami Schneider, Owner of Cleveland Yoga Studios, who herself is a perfect example of the fact that age really is just a number (she's 60 years old!).
Check out classes with Cleveland Yoga teachers Tami and Amy on NEOU.
While she's been practicing yoga (a pursuit she also credits for her apparent agelessness) for the past 20 years, she started her career in a more high-impact arena of the fitness industry: teaching and competing in national aerobic and fitness championships. Now, she owns four studios in the Cleveland area where she teaches several weekly classes along with an expert team of teachers (including Amy Schneider, who is also a part of the NEOU team). "My motivation is to stay strong, healthy, and stress-free," she says.
Here’s how she stays sharp, so she can continue to perform at the highest level:
1. Avoid negative energy
“Life throws us curve balls, and overreacting, blaming, doubting, complaining, or worrying doesn’t do anyone any good,” says Tami. Instead, her outlook to loss or disappointment is that “everything is recoverable” one way or another. “A smile and a healthy mindset is your best asset,” she says.
2. Have a daily ritual
Finding your groove can help with keeping healthy practices in place. Tami starts every day with a hot lemon water, a 15-minute walk, then 10 minutes of journaling, contemplation, and meditation. She also encourages a consistent eating plan. “My breakfast is a bulletproof coffee (black coffee blended with 1 tablespoon MCT oil and 1 tablespoon organic butter). I have a practice of intermittent fasting, so I aim to eat my first meal around noon.”
3. Hydrate well
The standard recommendation for daily water intake is eight 8-ounce glasses per day, or the 8x8 rule. But, Tami is a proponent of chlorophyll supplementation. “It detoxes your blood, boosts your immune system, and gut health,” she says. She’ll add droplets to her water throughout the day.
4. Stand confidently
According to Tami, the way you carry yourself goes a long way to exuding vitality. “Bad posture makes you look depressed and disengaged,” she says. Her advice is to keep your spine upright, keep your hips balanced in your seat, lift your sternum upward, and make eye contact with those you are in conversation with.
5. Stay supple
Truth is joints stiffen and ache with age, but Tami says this can be mediated with the right kind of movement. “In my experience, the wheel pose is our foundation of youth,” she says. According to her, everyone should do back-bends, forward bends, side bends, and twists on a daily basis.
Try Tami’s “Sweat. Stretch. Meditate” class on NEOU
6. Love your skin
Dry and uneven skin tone is one of the biggest tells of age, but you can ward them off with dry body brushing, says Tami. “It’s known to stimulate the lymphatic system (which boosts our immune system), and helps break down fatty deposits under the skin,” she says. So instead of pumping your body up with chemicals or creams, try this. “Without a doubt, I have noticed a difference in the texture and smoothness of my skin.”
7. Practice moderation
Health, longevity, and vitality aren’t a product of restrictive dieting or strict rules. In fact, according to Tami it’s quite the opposite. “I eat meat, I drink wine, and I love martinis,” she says. However, her ability to indulge is because of her healthy relationship with food. “I pay attention to the food I put in my body that is the right balance for my energy, digestion and brain function,” she says. On most days, and for most meals, Tami consumes plenty of fruits, veggies, and lean proteins which allows her to enjoy sweets on occasion.
8. Take a digital detox
There are a lot of advantages of living in a 24/7 connected world, but it doesn’t come without negatives as well. “Since many people work and operate from mobile devices, it’s easy to get caught up in work-related conversations during the off-hours,” Tami says. She believes optimized health comes by way of finding the right balance between work life and family life. “Be cognizant of your time at home and set healthy boundaries.”
9. Get to bed
There’s no doubting the importance of quality sleep. Researchers and health experts continue to find links between chronic sleep issues and heart disease, immune function problems, obesity, diabetes, and depression. Tami says there’s no excuse for not attempting to get in the shut-eye. “I’m all about 8 hours of sleep, every night,” she says.
