Home » Natural Steps, And Models, To ‘Aging Gracefully’

Natural Steps, And Models, To ‘Aging Gracefully’

by Kirby Lindsay Laney, posted 20 February 2016

 

What does aging gracefully look like to you?  Attend a workshop at Bastyr Center to find ways to live it.  Photo provided by Pixabay.com
What does aging gracefully look like to you? Attend a workshop at Bastyr Center to find ways to live it. Photo provided by Pixabay.com

On Saturday, February 27th, at 10:30a, Brandon Testa, N.D., will lead an informative workshop, for people of all ages, at the Bastyr Center of Natural Health on Stone Way.  This is another in the series of free ‘Living Naturally’ talks; this time Dr. Testa gives attendees ideas, and takes their questions, on ‘Natural Secrets To Aging Gracefully.’

A first-year clinical resident Naturopathic Physician, who supervises student physicians, Dr. Testa is aware of the irony of someone his age, who is just getting married, talking about aging.  Yet, “even at 31,” he said, “there have already been so many changes.”

Layers, And Lifestyle Changes

At this workshop, Dr. Testa hopes to share, and hear, about how we approach, and wish to approach, the natural changes that come with aging.  “It’s a discussion,” he explained, “about how we view and value aging.”  What we dislike, and fear, about aging may come from our perceptions, and Dr. Testa wants to encourage us to explore those thoughts and perceptions.

Brandon Testa, N.D., will lead a workshop in 'Natural Secrets To Aging Gracefully' at the Bastyr Center.  Photo provided by Bastyr
Brandon Testa, N.D., will lead a workshop in ‘Natural Secrets To Aging Gracefully’ at the Bastyr Center. Photo provided by Bastyr

“How do we want to age?” Dr. Testa asked.  Our perceptions, experiences and backgrounds place layers on our expectations, and can affect our behaviors.  “How can we take those layers away,” he said, and find the lifestyle choices and make the changes that will help us age gracefully.

Treating patients, Dr. Testa has found more and more of them worry about saving their memory.  And yet, more than any pill, studies have shown that the most impacts on memory come from lifestyle – a healthy diet, regular exercise, and engaging in the community around us.

Pain, and the threat of pain, has also been known to inhibit, and discourage, sufferers from engaging in their favorite activities and normal daily routines.  Pain is a multi-layered problem, Dr. Testa observed.  Sometimes we must fight through the pain, and sometimes it can be treated and removed.  Osteoarthritis can cause great pain, yet as Dr. Testa pointed out, “it can be counter-intuitive, but get out and move,” and that symptom will ease.  Getting out, and engaging in the community, in many instances will distract from pain and even manage it.

Insomnia, menopausal symptoms, weight gain, vision impairment, hearing loss, physical weakness, heart disease, etc. become problems with age.  These can all be addressed through thoughtful and careful work with your physician, Dr. Testa acknowledged.  Naturopathic Medicine focuses on helping the body to heal itself through diet, exercise, sleep and overall health, and in his talk, Dr. Testa will share how these can help with aging gracefully.

Aging doesn't have to mean losing those activities that feed your passions.  Photo provided by Pixabay.com
Aging doesn’t have to mean losing those activities that feed your passions. Photo provided by Pixabay.com

Still, medicine cannot turn back the clock.  “We can help you to do what you want to do,” Dr. Testa said, “and empower you to figure out how.”

Choose Your Aging Process

“Aging is a sense of community,” Dr. Testa said, “People can model what aging means, sharing resources with one another.”  It can come down to, “finding people that model for you,” the way you want to age, he observed.  “We all have a perspective on it,” he said, “How do we approach the challenges and changes?”

Rather than letting preconceived notions lead us, we can use the example given by others within our community, and be a model ourselves.  For Dr. Testa, his parents have become models.  His mother fought chronic back pain for years, and eventually found a solution through physical therapy.  Now, she regularly attends improvisation classes.  His father too has taken up traveling, and staying active.

“It is in how you choose to view the aging process,” Dr. Testa said.  Sometimes we must accept the changes, rather than saying ‘we have to fix this.’  To approach aging gracefully, it does help to have a sense of adventure and exploration about it.

As a physician, Dr. Testa can help us define for ourselves what aging means, and help us empower and activate our definitions.  We can engage in our own aging, and accept the challenges.  In this workshop on February 27th, Dr. Testa can help ease concerns over what aging has to look like.

Dr. Testa recommends finding people who model the aging you want to see, and modeling it for others.  Photo provided by Pixabay.com
Dr. Testa recommends finding people who model the aging you want to see, and modeling it for others. Photo provided by Pixabay.com

People of all ages can attend this ‘Natural Secrets to Aging Gracefully,’ and ask all their questions.  His plan is to help attendees find out what they need to empower and engage them.  “Do you think aging is bad, or that aging is naturally going to happen?” he asked.  Whatever you see as ‘aging gracefully,’ attend this workshop to find out how to get there.

Find out more by attending at 10:30a on February 27th at the Bastyr Center.  Find out more about the ‘Living Naturally’ series of free lectures on the Bastyr website, and the YouTube channel.

 

 


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©2016 Kirby Laney.  This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws.  Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.

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