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Sasha Gonzales

Beth Narain turns 78 in October and is relishing every moment that she has – to teach Pilates, dance to her favourite Motown, pop and classical tunes, spend time with friends, watch her favourite TV shows, and attend the ballet and live music performances.
“I work every day – I’ve been teaching Pilates at Pure Fitness [in Hong Kong] for 18 years. I also teach privately,” says Narain, who was born in South Africa and moved to Hong Kong from London in 1966 at the age of 19.
A ballet dancer, Narain later taught ballet, worked for broadcaster TVB, and ran a successful discotheque – The Scene, in the basement of The Peninsula.
“I enjoy working because it keeps me connected with people of different ages. When people retire, I feel like they stay with the same groups of people and become set in their ways.”

While many of us are anxious or fearful about getting older, Narain has a positive view of ageing.
“I may have a few lines on my face but I don’t feel old,” she says.
“I take care of myself – I get quality sleep every night, I rarely go out [at night] during the week, I exercise and listen to music every day, and I eat healthily and no longer drink alcohol.
“I also love scrolling through Instagram, and I enjoy socialising with younger people, because I find that young people are fearless and less set in their ways. And I don’t dwell on the past. Instead, I try to focus on the present and look ahead to the future.”
Narain has two daughters, aged 52 and 49, and two grandsons, all of whom live in England.

She is not alone in embracing ageing. In February, Paulina Porizkova, a top model during the 1980s, told USA Today that she would not accept the stigma that swirls around getting older.
“Being in this second part of life now and knowing what age is and what age brings, it’s such a tremendous time,” the 59-year-old said in the interview.
“Life will only get better as long as you’re not afraid of it. This is a fantastic place to be. Don’t waste time trying to be younger. Embrace who you are right now because you are at your very best right now. It’s not going to get any better than this, so enjoy it while it lasts.”

And who can forget when American entrepreneur Martha Stewart appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition in 2023, to become the brand’s oldest cover model ever, at the age of 81.
For Stewart, age is just a number, too.
“I don’t look my age, I don’t act my age and I don’t want to even think about age,” she told Today.com.
During her appearance on The Today Show in 2023, Stewart described her Sports Illustrated cover as a “testament to good living”.
“All of us should think about good living, successful living, and not about ageing. The whole ageing thing is so boring,” she said.

It turns out that embracing ageing positively may even be good for your health.
A study published in 2023 found that people with the highest satisfaction with ageing had a 43 per cent lower risk of dying from any cause during the four-year follow-up period compared with people with the lowest satisfaction.
People with higher satisfaction regarding ageing also had a lower risk for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, stroke and heart disease, and better cognitive functioning.
And those with a more positive attitude about ageing were more likely to engage in healthy behaviours, such as taking up regular physical activity, and were less lonely and depressed, and more optimistic.
Another study, by Bar-Ilan University in Israel, found that the younger we feel, the better our chances of successful rehabilitation from medical conditions, even in old age.
The study, published in 2022 in the journal Gerontology, followed patients aged 73 to 84 who were undergoing rehabilitation from broken bones resulting from osteoporosis, or after having a stroke. Patients who felt younger when they were admitted to the hospital were better able to function independently when they were discharged about a month later.
The researchers also found that those who felt younger had a better rehabilitation experience because they were more optimistic about their chances of regaining their functional abilities.
We must recognise that some of the changes we experience as we age are actually instances of growth rather than of loss
Ellen Langer, professor in Harvard University’s psychology department
“Those who feel younger can maintain their health and functioning for longer periods, and as the current study shows, can recuperate better from disability,” said Amit Shrira, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and the study’s lead researcher.
“Therefore, by perceiving themselves to age successfully, people may preserve a healthy and vigorous lifestyle.”
Is it possible to change our attitude towards ageing? Yes, and much of it has to do with mindfulness, says Ellen Langer, a professor in Harvard University’s psychology department, in the United States, who is widely regarded as the “mother of mindfulness”.
“Mindfulness, as I study it, has nothing to do with meditation,” says Langer, who is 77 years old.
“There are two ways to become mindful. The first is to notice new things. When you do this, you’ll see that they’re not what you thought they were, and they become interesting again. The second is to recognise that everything is uncertain; it has to be, because everything is always changing.
“Now, when you’re mindful you become engaged, and it’s that engagement that feels good and is good for you. Mindfulness is enlivening.”

Langer also explains how mindlessness – the opposite of mindfulness – can negatively affect how we view getting older.
“Let’s say you’re 20 years old and you’ve hurt your wrist. It’s not supposed to hurt at that age so you do something to take care of it. But, if you’re 75 and your wrist hurts, and you’ve mindlessly bought into the assumption that the body starts falling apart as it gets older, then you may say, ‘What else do I expect?’ and not do anything about it.”
Langer also points out that we have to change certain societal perceptions about ageing. For example, instead of seeing wrinkles as negative, we should view them as marks of distinction and signs of a life well-lived. If we did that, then wrinkles would have a different meaning.
“As individuals, we must also recognise that some of the changes we experience as we age are actually instances of growth rather than of loss,” Langer adds.
Narain says it helps to take a lighthearted approach to ageing, too.
“People tend to be too serious, especially when talking about their problems and ailments.
“It’s best to enjoy the time you have, have a good laugh when you can – even at your own expense – and smile a lot, because smiling can make you feel happier.”
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Pilates instructor Beth Narain practises at her gym in South Bay, Hong Kong. She explains how she stays positive about ageing - something that both studies and celebrities including Martha Stewart and Paulina Porizkova agree helps you age well. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Narain on holiday in the UK. Photo: Beth Narain

Narain is a former ballet dancer. Photo: Beth Narain

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The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue 2023, with Martha Stewart on the cover. Photo: TNS

Soon to be 78, Narain has a positive view of ageing.  Photo: Beth Narain

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Racers take part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in 2024. Photo: Elson Li

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Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Pilates teacher Beth Narain, 78, says being positive about ageing can help you age well. Celebrities including Martha Stewart agree


Pilates teacher Beth Narain, 78, says being positive about ageing can help you age well. Celebrities including Martha Stewart agree.
