Veteran actor, Sushma Seth, in a conversation with Tanmaya Das, shares insights on developing a healthy relationship between mind and body
We are frequently perplexed about why we are terrified of old age, which is the as natural as it gets. This fear is what has led to frustration and, in turn, numerous skin surgeries by people who try to ‘look young’. Many women, on the other hand, have chosen to live a healthy lifestyle by practising yoga and adhering to a particular skin-care regime. Sushma Seth, a veteran actress, trained in Hindustani classical music and drama, is 85 years old, and a person who has decided to enjoy ageing. She began her career in the 1950s, working with legends like Roshan Seth, Rati Bartholomew, Kusum Haider, and so on. Her performance as a mother and grandmother in several well-known Bollywood films has earned her recognition for both, humorous and malicious, roles.
In the book, Mantras For Positive Ageing, the actor has explicitly described that learning and gaining experience shape our opinions and thought-processes in life. She believes that the idea of ageing is distressing because of the gradual decline of mental and physical faculties. Edited by Dr V Mohini Giri and Meera Khanna and with a foreword by HH Dalai Lama, the book presents a collection of positive affirmations and healthy habits adopted by 50 renowned personalities time and again, including exemplars like Sunderlal Bahuguna, Kamala Bhasin, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, Tahir Mahmood, Aruna Dalmia, Dr Uma Tuli, among others.
We have seen people in their late adulthood get fatigued quickly and struggle with social, physical, emotional, and cognitive issues. It is essential to develop a positive relationship with our bodies as we age physically and mentally.
“Most of us or the people, in general, are afraid of old age because of the decline of vitality and energy. Many elderly lose their composure, get emotionally and physically dependent, thus, leading to this certain fear of old age,” she expressed.
One must acknowledge the importance of self-love in addition to improving one’s self-esteem. We feel more confident and realise our worth when we have higher self-esteem. Sharing some self-love tips, she explains, “One needs to regularly make a conscious effort to build self-love. It is crucial to get engaged in some activities that will help you excel at or have a passion for something that will bring joy and satisfaction to others as well as yourself. So, one needs to take care of one’s emotional, physical and material requirements and must not indulge in any unhealthy habits.”
However, despite the best efforts to reconsider our worth and engage in healthy practises, we fail to stick to our resolutions, owing to a variety of distractions. As a result of such interruptions, we become more agitated and lose our clear sense of purpose in life. So, in order to achieve our objectives, we must examine our behaviours and surroundings. Yoga soothes our minds and fills our spirits with pleasant energy. Sharing her thoughts on ashtanga yoga, she states, “I have realised the benefits of ashtanga yoga of sage Patanjali that influences us on various levels, including physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual. I prioritise and incorporate several asanas, such as pranayama, meditation, and other niyama, into my daily routine. It provides me the energy, helps me to be emotionally strong, and aids me in building a positive attitude in my life.”
During her elementary school, her love for Gone With The Wind didn’t fade for a while, but now she has added to her favourites — books like Vedanta Treatise by Swami A Parthasarthy, and currently, she is fascinated with Mantra For Positive Ageing.
She feels most productive in the morning as the rehearsals, performances and shootings require working round the clock. She also advises youth to find their talent and work towards honing it, while encouraging always pursuing a career and studying the area of interest. To build a better tomorrow, she concludes, “It is important to take care of yourself and live with harmony, tolerance and kindness towards all living beings and the environment.”
