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Aging? We have tales of yogis and other "adepts" who could supposedly live much longer than the average life span for their times or who could self-cure diseas

by api 11y ago

Aging? We have tales of yogis and other "adepts" who could supposedly live much longer than the average life span for their times or who could self-cure disease, etc. While I don't take these stories at their miraculous face value, I do wonder if there might not be some kernel of truth in there somewhere -- perhaps certain patterns of thought can and do have an effect on aging, the immune system, etc. We do know that people who are happy or feel socially accepted by friends and loved ones have statistically significant increased odds of surviving deadly cancers and other serious diseases. For years I've felt like I've casually observed a converse effect-- people who adopt a curmudgeonly "old" point of view in life often seem to have failing health. I have wondered which comes first. Could an "old" (in the negative sense) mentality actually age you?

thelettere 11y ago
I can't find it now but yes there was a study done a few years ago that had one group of elderly people play and act like children, and another do some "serious" adult activity for some period of time, and afterwards they took some markers of aging, and found it significantly diminished in the play group. But I wonder what the aging effect of our obsession with control is. In other words, would playful thoughts motivated by a desire for control still net those results? (if indeed you can even be playful and controlling at the same time) Based on what I know about psychology, I doubt it. Motivations matter, and letting go and accepting things as they are is one of the most psychologically healthy things we are capable of doing. I doubt if any of those yogis who achieved long life (if indeed they did) did so intentionally for the purpose of achieving a long life. Instead, it was likely a by-product - as so many of the best things are.
rurounijones 11y ago
This dude seems to be able to prove "Superhuman" abilities in scientific environments based solely on mental fortitude and control http://www.icemanwimhof.com/innerfire http://www.icemanwimhof.com/innerfire

by api 11y ago

thelettere 11y ago

I can't find it now but yes there was a study done a few years ago that had one group of elderly people play and act like children, and another do some "serious" adult activity for some period of time, and afterwards they took some markers of aging, and found it significantly diminished in the play group. But I wonder what the aging effect of our obsession with control is. In other words, would playful thoughts motivated by a desire for control still net those results? (if indeed you can even be playful and controlling at the same time) Based on what I know about psychology, I doubt it. Motivations matter, and letting go and accepting things as they are is one of the most psychologically healthy things we are capable of doing. I doubt if any of those yogis who achieved long life (if indeed they did) did so intentionally for the purpose of achieving a long life. Instead, it was likely a by-product - as so many of the best things are.

rurounijones 11y ago

This dude seems to be able to prove "Superhuman" abilities in scientific environments based solely on mental fortitude and control http://www.icemanwimhof.com/innerfire http://www.icemanwimhof.com/innerfire