Biological aging research shows that there are no gerontogenes that have evolved with the specLfic function of causing aging and determining the time of our death. Genes determine our survival and our ability to live and maintain health, but for about 40-50 years only. НLs period of life is known as the essential lifespan (ELS), required by evolution for the assurance of life and the continuation of generations. In the presence of survival genes, we are able to live, and now we even expect to live, for much longer duration than our species’ ELS. However, a longer life beyond ELS also allows the emergence of aging together with all its physical, mental and social manifestations. Нat then requires lifestyle adjustments, and biomedical, aesthetic and psycho-social methods for maintaining health and identity in old age. Aging is thus an emergent phenomenon and happens individually. And so the methods to intervene in aging are also required to be person-specLfic. Нe highly complex and dynamic nature of our present bodies makes it impossible to completely stop or reverse aging. Нe very act of living constantly causes damage in our cells through three major sources of damage: (1) free radicals formed due to external factors (for example, sunlight and pollution), and as a result of internal metabolism involving oxygen and metals; (2) nutritional components, including glucose, fats and their metabolites; and (3) errors in the biochemical processes of DNA duplication, RNA transcription and protein synthesis. Evolution has developed a complex network of molecular, cellular and physiological maintenance and repair systems (MARS) to control the damage and assure the survival during ELS. MARS create a “homeostatic/homeodynamic space”, or a ͦbuوٴerLnJ capacity”, in terms of stress tolerance, damage control and constant adaptation. Нere is no state of so-called homeostasis in living systems. Life is dynamic, interactive, adaptive and constantly remodelling. Life beyond ELS is accompanied by a progressive shrinkage of the homeodynamic space, reduced stress tolerance and increased vulnerability. All negative signs of old age, including age-related diseases, are due to declining eÙ¹cLenc\ of MARS. Although a variety of cosmetic, nutritional and other lifestyle interventions are being promoted and sold as “anti-aging”, a promising scLentLfic approach towards healthy aging is that of hormesis for maintaining health and homeodynamics. Hormesis is the positive relationship between lowlevel stress and health. Whereas uncontrolled and unwanted stress is negative and harmful, low level “stress of choice” can be good and health beneficLaO. Moderate exercise is the best example of hormesis. Exercise initially increases the production of free radicals, acids and other harmful biochemicals in the body.