An article on how senior citizens can help themselves overcome their emotions

1. HOW CAN SENIOR CITIZENS OVERCOME THEIR EMOTIONAL UPSETS
They are likely targets for anxiety and depression, succumb to stress, cannot accept
dependence on anyone as they spend more time alone
They become nostalgic
Express difficulty in sharing others’ happiness
They do not share joy and sorrow with others
Widowed elders carry a kind of anger and sadness due to loss of their spouse
They succumb to stress due to the feeling of loneliness
Retirement from profession makes them feel they have left their productive years behind them
Often a thought of children not accompanying them haunts them
Elders living alone cannot accept dependence on anyone
One can combat these emotions with the help of Bhakti Yoga- the science of emotion culture
Dalai Lama, Saibaba, Sri Sri Ravishakar, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa have spread the message of love
and sacrifice which can be practiced with faith by all.
The term Bhakti means ‘to be attached to God’. There is no expectation or fear here.
Bhakti is a thorough discipline and training of one’s will and mind to destroy the ego.
How to develop Bhakti?
Satsanga
Smarana, Kirtan & Japa
Service of saints and spiritual masters
Service of the poor and sick with divine bhava without any expectation
Feeling the presence of the Supreme power in all beings
Emotional and mental vitality are closely tied to physical vitality-just as the mind has powerful effects on
the body, so is our physical state affects how we feel and think.
Physical activity:
While physical activity like walking, yoga, outdoor games and helping in household chores produces
chemicals in the body that promote emotional well-being, inactivity can cause depression, anxiety,
and stress.
On a daily basis, being physically active improves quality of life:
Mental sharpness becomes better.
Balance, strength, and flexibility of the body are key to preventing injuries and falls.
Social activity:
Protect or improve your emotional health by staying in touch with friends, family, and the community.
Whether physically healthy or ill, people who feel connected to others are more likely to thrive than those

2. who are socially isolated. Volunteering in any community and sharing the wisdom and talents with others
is a gratifying and meaningful way to enrich your life. Dignity foundation is pioneer in all these activities.
Mental activity:
Protect and improve your memory and mental sharpness by:
Challenging the intellect on a daily basis. Read, learn a new musical instrument or language, do
crossword puzzles, or play games of strategy with others. Just like an active body, an
active brain continues to develop and thrive, while an inactive brain loses its power over time.
Write down dates, names, and other important information that you easily forget. Keep daily items such
as keys, eyeglasses and dentures in a specific place. And when you meet someone new, picture that
person while you repeat his or her name loud to others or to yourself several times to commit it to
memory.
Depression is common yet treatable if diagnosed early. In addition to getting regular physical activity and
social contact, eat healthy meals and snacks, include meaningful activity in daily life
Avoid Cigarette smoking and taking alcohol
Combating Stress:
You can come out of stress by leading a healthy, enjoyable life.
Sleep:
Ensure that you get enough sleep no matter whatever is bothering you. Do not worry if one night has gone
sleepless. You can always catch up with it the next night. Push all the worries for the day. Try not to take
sleeping tablets.
Exercise:
Even a 10 minute walk would enhance the blood circulation thereby relaxing your mind and body.
Control of events:
Having a sense of control over events lessens the stressful impact. There are some things over which we
have no control. Accept people, don’t be a football of others’ opinion. Good and bad situations are
complementary to each other. Do not judge others. Choose something pleasant to reward yourself with
when you follow one of these.
Relax:
Relaxation is a most useful technique to practice when you feel stressed. Start to breathe slowly and
deeply expanding your abdomen then raising your rib cage to let more air in.
The health benefits of being part of a family or tight community are well known, so keep these links
strong as you get older. Make time to keep in touch with family members - visit, email, write letters or
just phone regularly.
Volunteer some time to local community projects and get involved with local clubs or societies like
dignity foundation.
Talk to friends and relatives, your colleagues, to find out exactly which relationships are important to
them and what you might do to help them maintain these.

3. Many people prefer to carry on with the sort of activities they have always enjoyed, but may just need a
bit of extra help to commute. Visit to a nearby temple or satsang also can help.
It’s never too late for love – plenty of people find a new partner in later life.
Mobility is often an issue –Sometimes a few sessions with a physiotherapist may help to restore your
independence to get out and meet their friends.
There are several deeper practices of Yoga to control and alleviate anxiety. The following are the eight
stepped procedures into which these are knit. You need an experienced guide to take you through these
advanced meditation techniques which are developed by Swamy Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana
Samsthana- SVYASA, Yoga University, Bangalore, South India.
MEMT: Mastering the Emotions Technique
Prayer:
Yallabdhva puman siddho bhavati, amroto bhavati trpto bhavati.
Yat jnatva matto bhavati, stabdho bhavati, Atmaramo bhavati.
By achieving which a human being realizes his/her perfection and divinity and becomes thoroughly
contented.
1. Recognize – thinking and feeling (put on a bhajan cassette)
2. Intensification – Diffusion (9 rounds)
a. Intensify the ‘BHAVA’ of love or feeling by repetition of the bhava again and again with
increasing speed. Feel the intensity
b. Diffuse the intensity of the feeling. Feel the peace (Santa bhava)
c. Repeat 9 rounds
3. Pairs of Opposites (9 cycles)
a. Sit or lie down relaxed
b. Recall intense heat and then cold
c. Practise 8 more pairs of opposites like misery-happiness, praise-blame, dirt-cleanliness,
light-darkness, adharma-dharma, miserliness-magnanimity, constriction-expansion,
lightness-heaviness, anxiety-calmness, etc.
4. Death experience (9 rounds)
a. Lie down in savasana
b. Invoke the feeling of death, stay dead
c. Slowly move your body and come back
d. Repeat 9 cycles
5. Silence
a. Allow all emotions to diffuse into infinite silence. Stay in silence effortlessly for a few
minutes
b. Feel the bliss and elation of silence
c. repeat 9 cycles

4. 6. Resolve (9 rounds) – that you should have positive emotions all the time- have faith in the
Supreme power
7. Closing prayer:
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramayah
Sarve bhadrani pasyantu,
Ma kascit duhkha bhagabhavet
Aum Santih Santih Santih.
Let all of us be happy and without disease. Let us realize the Truth of our existence. Let no one
suffer from misery.
Aum peace peace peace.
Anusandhana – Throughout the day
1. Reduce the anger and anxiety
2. Retain the bliss and peace
3. Keep diary, review and improve to maintain bliss and calmness in all activities.