In the first post of a ‘Fit after 40’ series, Anita Anand tells us the healthy ageing mantras of 75 year old architect Saroj Sawhney.
Staying fit hasn’t been a struggle for 75 year old Saroj Sawhney, since she has been active all her life. Her interest in playing sports developed during her school days, and thrived through college and university. And age hasn’t changed this.
“Now, fitness is a way of life,” she says. So, she begins her day at 5.30 am, with a session of meditation and Sudarshan Kriya – a breathing technique popularised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. After this, she moves on to a varied exercise routine.
Moving outdoors and forward
An architect by training and still practicing, Saroj’s activities have moved from the indoors, to the outdoors over the span of her life. Ever since she and her husband built a house in the hills of Uttarakhand, Saroj has relished time spent in the gardens.
Here, she enjoys turning the produce of the citrus orchard into marmalades, jams, chutneys and preserves. These are marketed under the brand of Shyamkhet Gardens. In addition, Saroj is an avid gardener, who grows lilies under controlled temperatures and drip irrigation in her poly house. More recently, she has developed an interest in growing apples.
Mixed fitness routine
Unlike some who push themselves through exercise just to keep fit, Saroj actually enjoys her fitness routine. “None of my physical activities are a drudgery for me,” she declares. Importantly, she aims to keep her body, mind and spirit active.
Maybe that’s why yoga is her favourite fitness activity. Though Saroj learned yoga and practiced with a teacher in the beginning, today she practices by herself. “You can do it anywhere, anytime. You don’t need a pool or a bike, or any special gear,” she says. So, she does yoga 3 days a week, and bikes, walks and swims on others.
Eating natural and organic, as far as possible
Saroj believes in eating seasonal vegetables and fruits, and avoids processed and frozen foods. Whenever possible, she opts for organic produce. “These days it’s easy to get fresh, organic vegetables and fruit,” she says.
At the start of the day, Saroj drinks a glass of warm lemon water, with turmeric, cumin and black salt. Following this, she has a breakfast of seasonal fruit. Sometimes, she has a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice, with ginger, as well as some mixed dried fruit and nuts. Lunch is a home cooked Indian meal, and dinner consists of a soup of seasonal vegetables.
Diet for the decade
For the last 10 years, Saroj has consciously cut out carbohydrates from her diet, and replaced these with proteins, predominantly fish. Being an avid supporter of healthy ageing, she eats to nourish her body and ensures her diet is iodine-rich, to keep her thyroid healthy.
The best part of getting older, is that she understands her body better. Today, Saroj enjoys being fit and active, and relishes the wonders of nature. “It’s all about the balance in my life,” she muses.
Anita Anand has a deep interest in physical and mental health issues with a focus on aging, fitness and nutrition. She paints, works out three times a week with a professional trainer, is a hypnotherapist, and experiments in the kitchen with healthy ingredients. Anita is the author of several books and articles.
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