Your numerical age has little to do with how old you really are. A 75 year old may really be in his late fifties, while a 55-year-old may really be closer to 65!

There are certain levels of health, fitness, wellbeing, weight etc that are expected of a person at a certain age. If you look and feel healthier than someone 5 years younger than you, if you are more fit, if your muscles are stronger, your heart is healthier, your circulation is better, than you really are younger than this person, although he may have been born ten years after you. Like many other things in this world, age too is relative.

Do you want to start growing older slowly? Then here are some of the best options.

Yoga

Doing yoga regularly is possibly the best step you can take in your endeavour to stay young and healthy. Yoga keeps your body supple and fexible, and the health benefits are tremendous. The best part is that it exercises those joints that would otherwise never get exercised, supplies oxygen and removes toxins from every nook and corner of the body. And when you combine yoga asanas with meditation, you ensure the well being of mind and body. Is it any wonder then that yoga gurus often seem to be ageless? If you live in India, you should know that you have access to yoga gurus at incredibly reasonable prices, and those living in other corners of the world have to pay hefty sums to reap the benefits so accessible to you, while many others just cannot afford it. Don't take this advantage lightly. Make the most of it and sign up for a yoga class.

Exercise

Cardiovascular exercise too plays a large part in ensuring you stay young, fit and healthy. It keeps your heart strong and supple, so that it is able to keep pumping good, oxygen-rich blood throughyour body , keeping all organs healthy and in great shape. Exercise is so good for you, that any amount you can manage will be beneficial. Even if you can squeeze out just a few minutes a day, or if you can exercise just once a week, there will be some positive result. So exercise whenever you can, and don't give up just because you feel you cannot be regular.

Your mental well being also helps keep you younger. A person who is depressed starts ageing faster, while a person at peace emanates a youthful glow. Exercise helps ward off depression too.

Cigarettes

Smokers age far more rapidly than non-smokers, and the age starts showing as well. A smoker has more wrinkles, more discolouration of the lips and teeth, and bad lungs. But the good news is that once you decide to quit smoking,your body starts repairing itself almost instantly. Your body will complete the repair process depending on how long you've been smoking for.