Dr Michael Mosley says one popular exercise can ‘slow down’ ageing process
Health & Fitness

Dr Michael Mosley says one popular exercise can ‘slow down’ ageing process

Dr Mosley looked into research suggesting the exercise enhances your mood and reduces stress and anxiety – and it may be able to ‘delay or slow down the rate of cellular ageing’

Research suggests one common exercise may slow down ageing(Shared Content Unit)

We’re all on the hunt for ways to slow down the ageing process, whether it’s through exercise, diet or over-the-counter products.

But one doctor believes he may have stumbled upon a crucial tool in the battle to stay healthy as we get older – and it’s been around for millennia. Dr Michael Mosley has delved into research suggesting that yoga not only boosts strength and flexibility but also enhances mood and reduces stress and anxiety – and it could even ‘delay or slow down the rate of cellular ageing’.




As part of his Just One Thing podcast on the BBC, Dr Mosley explored the history and health benefits of yoga. Yoga has been practised for at least 5000 years, but it only gained global popularity in the 19th century when photographs allowed the various movements and poses to be easily shared worldwide. While there are many different types of yoga, five well-known variants stand out – Vinyasa, Astanga, Hatha, Iyengar, and Hot Yoga, reports Wales Online.

Dr Mosley focused on Hatha yoga and discovered astonishing results. He said: “Yoga is an ancient practice for the body and mind that can boost strength and flexibility. There are many different types of yoga practices, but generally it involves physical poses, breath control and meditation. Regular practice has shown to lower chronic inflammation, which could help reduce depression and anxiety, and some exciting new research suggests it could even benefit you at a cellular level.”

Yoga could delay or slow down the rate of cellular ageing(Getty Images)

“There is some really interesting research that suggests that doing regular yoga can lower chronic inflammation which is linked to heart disease and cancer and also doing yoga can boost your mood, which might help you with motivation and get you going in other areas of activity. Research shows that this mind-body intervention really does come with a wide range of health benefits.”

A German study in 2018 organised three groups of people who, for 10 weeks, either practiced yoga, participated in sports, or did nothing. Brain scans found a significant increase in the grey matter density of the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory.

In another pilot study held in 2017, participants with mild or moderate depression were divided into two groups: one group engaged in yoga, whilst the other group studied the history of yoga for 90 minutes twice a week over an eight-week span. The results indicated that 60% of the yoga group was no longer clinically depressed after the trial period, while there was only a 10% improvement among the history group.

A recent review found that yoga can help reduce stress hormone levels and regulate our body’s stress response. The NHS even endorses it, saying: “Yoga focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing. There’s some evidence that regular yoga practice helps people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains (including lower back pain), depression and stress.”