This article is excerpted from Skin Inc . magazine.

Since the time humans first roamed the earth there have been oral and written stories of the quest to find the elixir of life ... the Fountain of Youth. The Western biblical tradition tells of a Golden Age when people lived hundreds of years. In the East, there are stories of those who attained immortality, existing in magical realms. Are such stories or the desire to be able to attain such a state of being folly--mere vanity in the face of the truth of impermanence and death? Surely there are those whose lives have been rich and fulfilling in one way or another and who wish life didn't have to end so soon. Conversely, there are those who hold the opposite view; that life has been full of sorrow and to die is a blessed final relief. For some the party ends too soon; for others the torment continues.

The difference
According to ayurveda and the wisdom traditions of the East, one's state of mind is what makes the difference. Ultimately, to feel youthful, rich and full of life is a state of mind. There are those who go from complacency to boredom in living out their lives and those who are ever-thirsty, ever-searching; young people in rockers in front of wide screen television sets and grannies in sneakers, exploring the pyramids. Highly effective methods of physical rejuvenation are found within ayurveda, but there also is a mental or spiritual dimension that is viewed as an essential ingredient.

Learn methods of contemplation and meditation that enable the cultivation of a youthful state of mind, regardless of whether the physically rejuvenating methods of ayurveda are employed or not. If mental and spiritual flexibility and openness are not developed and enhanced, of what value is a more youthful body, except for the temporary relief or pleasure it provides?

Regaining youthfulness
In general, ayurveda teaches that if life is lived in accordance with prakruti, or basic body-mind constitution, then a natural youthfulness is maintained throughout life. This understanding is based on what, in Tibetan tradition, is considered the first level of medicine and healing: engaging in a daily lifestyle of proper nutrition, appropriate exercise, quality relaxation and sleep, seasonally determined hygiene practices, and the cultivation of positive and uplifting communication with our natural environment and those individuals whose lives we touch.

Tibetan rejuvenation exercise
Detoxification and rejuvenation are serious components of ayurveda. The methods offered can be quite extreme with respect to the demands it places on one's time and lifestyle, yet the rewards often outweigh the inconvenience. At the same time, as intimated, there are practices one can engage in that can give slow but increased benefits if practiced regularly and over time.

Exercises from the Tibetan ayurvedic tradition that slow the aging process and, when coupled with quality diet and other first level health-giving recommendations, actually can reverse the aging process. With the use of basic or more advanced levels of detoxification and rejuvenation, they can have amazing results. If practiced in the morning, they get the body and mind up and ready to face the day. If they are performed in the evening, they help to relax one and smooth out the stresses and strains of the day.

For step-by-step instruction for five rejuvenation excersices easily added to your current menu, see the Wellness: The Inner Focus section of Skin Inc. magazine's  March 2001 issue.

To purchase the videotapes by Melanie and Robert Sachs which include Ayurvedic Beauty Care Face Rejuvenation Sequence and the Art and Practice of Shirodhara, go to the secure order form at Aesthetic VideoSource or call 1-800-414-2434.