Museums will keep you young: Mumbai art lovers, experts highlight how cultural activities can help

Our collective idea of selfcare has become depressingly predictable Itrsquos a 7 am HIIT class that leaves you hating life a protein shake that tastes like wet chalk or mindlessly doomscrolling on Instagram until your eyes burnItrsquos time for a happy change New research confirms that weekly museum visits can slow down biological ageing by four per cent It feels like the fountain of youth was actually hiding in plain sight tucked behind the iron gates of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVS and we never noticedA study published in Innovation in Ageing titled lsquoDoes leisure activity matter for epigenetic ageing has dropped a scientific bombshell visiting museums and art galleries is essentially the new lsquoitrsquo physical exerciseAccording to the research folks who engage in weekly cultural activities are biologically ageing slower than those who donrsquot So is it time we swap our green tea and protein shakes for some cultureNandan MangaonkarNandan Mangaonkar a regular museum goer has turned galleryhopping into a lifestyle ldquoWith the Bhau Daji Lad Museum there is a distinct sense of belongingrdquo Mangaonkar says ldquoIt speaks about our city how the restoration work happened how it was part of a culture how it became a revival It creates a hook with the cityrdquoMangaonkar notes that his engagement is deepened by guided tours and the floating exhibitions or temporary displays that turn any museum into a recurring destination ldquoWhen you attend things like that you start reflecting You see a timeline of what was happening in India vs the world and you start looking at things from a different point of view Itrsquos a mental resetrdquoDr Kedar TilweldquoIt doesnrsquot surprise me at allrdquo says Dr Kedar Tilwe consultant psychiatrist at Fortis Hospital Mulund and Fortis Hiranandani Hospital Vashi ldquoPeople who have interests outside their routine work tend to have a healthier more robust ageing process When you are scrolling through social media the idea is usually that itrsquos a very small amount of time that our attention is focused Itrsquos fleeting attention or passive content Itrsquos not something we analyse too much because it is served to us in clear bitesized termsrdquoCompare that Dr Tilwe notes to a museum visit ldquoWhen you are looking at paintings or structures that have been built analyse and understand the logic of another person trying to build that masterpiece All of this engages you and forces you to think for yourself and imagine for yourself This is much more helpful than mindless scrollingrdquoUrvi Kothari JoganiUrvi Kothari Jogani a South Asian art writer and curator says that she feels a sense of ownership anytime she engages in cultural activity ldquoAs a Jain any time I have come across scriptures or artefacts related to Jainism it gives me more context a sense of ownership and belonging My brain instantly starts making a lot of connectionsrdquoJogani adds that historical context in turn increases her curiosity forcing her to dive into further research ldquoYou get a better understanding of the world For example I have looked at Mughal history and understood why India has certain aesthetics made a connection to Turkish empires and at times even got a better understanding of global politics through historyrdquoIn essence your social media feeds are waning your patience but a stroll through a heritage gallery is basically a highintensity yoga session for your grey matterDr Tilwe suggests a hybrid approach ldquoExercise is nonnegotiable I suggest at least one to two rounds of walks a day for the elderly without overexerting themselves But a museum becomes the novel distraction they didnrsquot know they neededrdquoDeeksha Athwani a consultant clinical psychologist at Fortis Hospital Mulund emphasises that the benefits of cultural engagement go far beyond mere distractionShe points to a phenomenon often overlooked in the rush of urban life the ldquosmiling depressionrdquo among our elderly population A type of depressive disorder where individuals project happiness but suffer from profound inner anguishldquoWhen people are spending time in the museum they are not just looking at objects They are learning they are remembering and they are connectingrdquo Athwani explains ldquoWe have the physical side of ageing covered everyone knows to eat well and walk But curiosity creativity and new experiences are what keep our minds truly activerdquoShe adds that everyone young or old should engage in cultural visits for creativity or simply to improve their curiosityCan our heritage spaces handle Generation Xgtgt thinspChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVS offers robust accessibility with wide ramps elevators and wheelchair availability upon request The spacious gardens provide a perfect transition from the cityrsquos heat to the museumrsquos cool interiorsgtgt thinspDr Bhau Daji Lad Museum is an architectural masterpiece It has made significant strides in accessibility but visitors with mobility challenges should call ahead to confirm lift access for the galleries on the first floorgtgt thinspMani Bhavan is small intimate and perfect for a slower quiet afternoon Be aware that the historic layout has stairsgtgt thinspNational Museum of Indian Cinemarsquos new building has elevators escalators and ramps for wheelchairs However the old building does have wooden stairs to some galleries limiting accessibility