10 steps to 100

1-Don't retire .. stay active
When most people retire from their jobs they spend their day doing nothing. Keeping active - mentally and physicall is the key. Taking regular Yoga classes, well into retirement, keeps the body limber and healthy, and the mind sharp.

2-Floss every day
Lots of studies show how flossing the teeth keeps the arteries healthy. Its all in the bacteria.

3-Move around.
Exercise! Yes .. regular exercise improves your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. You don't need a gym - just your local Hamsa Yogashala! And FYI: Yoga builds muscle. Yes, the strength training poses in Yoga are similar to those found in weight lifting.

4-Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast.
Ayurveda, the Yoga system of health, emphasizes wholegrains, especially in the morning. Studies have shown that older folk maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day when they have grains for breakfast.

5-Get at least six hours of shut-eye.
Ayurveda again. Yes, a regular Yoga classes improves sleep, and improved sleep adds years to your life. Om .. it does the body good!

6-Consume whole foods, not supplements.
You guessed it .. Ayurveda again! Eat whole foods, not suppliments. Enjoy colorful fruits and vegetables, cook with garden herbs in every meal, eat dark whole grains. All of these will slow the rate of cognitive decline and physical weakening.

7- Be less neurotic
Yoga is really good for this .. calms even the most wired students down! Yes .. a healthy dose of deep breathing, deep stretching, subtle sweating and laughter will manage your stress.

8-Live like a Yogi
Yogis, like Seventh Day Adventists (for example), live longer lives more fully. Sometimes a decade or two longer. One of the basic tenets of Yoga is to respect the body, mind and spirit, which means no tobacco abuse, no alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets, getting lots of sleep, and joy! Most Yogis are vegetarians, but if thats too tough .. try Meatless Monday (and smokeless, alcohol-less, etc).

9-Be a creature of habit
Take a regular Yoga class. Yes, routine is part of a Centenarians lifestyle. Having a regular diet, regular exercise, regular routine, all contributes to a long life.

10-Stay connected
Have friends! Have a social network! These things keep us far from depression and anxiety - which lead to premature aging and death. A regular Yoga class is a great networking tool, after all, a "Yoga class is just friends waiting to happen!"