Maybe it’s because I turned 60 last year. Maybe it’s because my mom died that year too, at age 91. Or maybe it’s just the business I’m in. But lately, I’ve found myself freakishly obsessed with longevity. Not just longevity. I recognize that once born, we all have the same fate. We will die at some point.
My philosophy, and the basis for what and how I teach, is that I want to be healthy when I die. And I want that for you too; a life of vitality, well-being and inner peace, to the very end.
These past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege to substitute teach Pilates for one of Pilates’ Grand Dames, Suzanne Gutterson. Suzanne will be 93 this year and still teaches about 10-12 sessions a week! Watching, as she dances through life with seemingly less effort than most people I know, has added to my intense curiosity about healthy aging.
What’s the secret?
As you know, I’m a proponent of healthful eating, hydration, healthy movement and mindfulness, all of which contribute to whole-person health and well-being. But there’s more to living buoyantly into old age than just these basics.
Enter Blue Zones
Blue Zones is both a book and a project. Author of the book and founder of the project, Dan Buettner, is a National Geographic Fellow who has discovered five places in the world where people live the longest and happiest.
One of the most well-known of these five is Okinawa, Japan. As you know I’ve been traveling to Japan for about 11 years. So, in this blog I’d like to share what Dan Buettner and others have learned from the people of Okinawa, which has more people over 100 years old (per 100,000) than anywhere else in the world. Perhaps you will discover some of the beauty of this culture as I have.
Buettner has identified nine areas that he calls "the Power 9" which all Blue Zone dwellers around the world have in common. Here’s how the Power 9 are expressed in Okinawa.
- Natural Movement – This is the daily movement of humans before we became industrialized. In Okinawa, elders can be seen walking, practicing martial arts, gardening and fishing; contributing to the family meals.
- Purpose – Ikigai, in Japanese, means a reason for living, encompassing joy and a feeling of well-being. When awakening in the morning these Okinawan centenarians know what their purpose in life is and that purpose brings them simple joy.
- Eat Wisely – ‘Hara hachi bun’ is an ancient Confucian saying that means, stop eating when you are 80 percent full. Prior to each meal, along with offering “Itadakimasu” in thanks to all beings who helped provide the meal, Okinawans invoke hara hachi bun to help them remember to eat mindfully.
- Pick Plants – Choose a plant-based diet with less meat and processed foods. Okinawans grow many of their vegetables, eat plenty of plant-based protein and enjoy sea vegetables as well.
- Happy Hour – Many of the Blue Zones residents enjoy alcohol in moderation. While the Greeks and Italians may opt for red wine, the Japanese may prefer beer or fermented Sake (and regular Sake). Health experts say no more than one glass/day for women and two glasses/day for men.
- Down Shift – It’s a time to nap, reflect or unplug. In Okinawa, they take a few moments in the day to stop and remember their ancestors.
- Connect – Surround yourself with friends. Okinawans form “Moai”; social support groups that are typically formed in childhood and that are lifelong connections. They may meet weekly or even daily to share stories, wisdom and support. Moai are the close friends you know you can always count on – no matter what.
- Spiritual Community – All of the Blue Zones residents have some sort of spiritual community or practice. Elder Okinawan women are responsible for saying Ugan (prayers) to those who went before them.
- Family First – Loving, feeling loved, and a sense of belonging to the family unit is strong in Blue Zones from birth to death. Okinawans have great respect for elders, and elders hold a place of honor in the family.
On a sign on the outskirts of Ogimi, a small Okinawan fishing and farming village, there is a saying carved in stone,
“At 70 you are still a child, at 80 a young man or woman. And if at 90, someone from heaven invites you over, tell him: ‘Just go away, and come back when I am 100!’” (from Dr. Tyrone M. Reyes)
The Blue Zones Power 9 offers a lot of insight and wisdom into living long, living well and prospering in joy and friendship. I hope you’ve found the Okinawan Power 9 lifestyle as charming I have.
Until next time,
Be well (Live Long and Prosper)
The Blue Zones, Second Edition: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest
The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People
The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons From the World's Happiest People
Image by BlueZones