Could our worldview extend our lifespan?
Netflix recently came out with a powerful documentary where Dan Buettner, host and author of ‘The Blue Zones’, travels around the world to regions where people consistently live to 100 years old. The mission? To discover what they are doing so we can extend our lives too.
Lesson 2 - Natural Movement
We all know getting active is healthy, but the secret to longevity is to move without even realizing you’re moving. That’s what Dan Buettner discovered when visiting Blue Zones across the world. Here are three ways centenarians do this without fancy gym memberships:
Doing it by hand: The modern world has a gadget for everything, and we end up not needing to do a lot by hand. Blue Zone dwellers tend to do a lot by hand, that not only provides healthy dynamic activity, but it also is very fulfilling and ends up being quite fun. These activities can be kneading dough, hand-making crafts, knitting sweaters, and chopping wood.
I’m a big foodie, and I love making healthy, natural food by hand. I enjoy making sourdough bread and home-made, gluten-free pizza. I also find myself buying food in bulk and spending a few hours chopping it up and freezing it. Although it’s not always fun, I definitely enjoy the result of my work and it is a fulfilling way to be lightly active. I will definitely be looking for more ways to do simple tasks by hand this year.
If you have any joint pain which makes doing things by hand difficult, I recommend taking doTERRA’s Lifelong Vitality Supplement system. It helps balance the inflammation in your body by rounding out your nutrition profile and giving you high quality omega 3 and 9. If you’re interested, you can buy Lifelong Vitality 25% off using my links below.
Doing it by foot: Rather than use cars to get around everywhere, centenarians often create a life where walking is big part of their daily activity. By visiting nearby friends and doing simple errands in their neighbourhood, blue zone dwellers end up getting a lot of passive exercise without even realizing it. In a blue zone called Sardinia, the steep slopes in the village are a big factor that extends the lives in that region as compared to nearby, flatter villages.
I’ve found a way to keep myself consistent with walking. I live in a beautiful part of Ontario nearby many trails. A couple of years ago, I got a puppy who loves to run and walk. Every day, no matter what the weather or how energetic I feel, I have to take Charlie for a walk. It’s forced accountability since he wouldn’t let me skip a walk even if I wanted to! Swimming is also a big part of my life, and I’ve always made sure I’ve had access to a swimming pool either on my property or at a nearby spa / gym. When I travel, I specifically book hotels or AirBnB properties where I will have access to a place to swim
One of the reasons we may not want to walk is because it hurts! If you struggle with your joints or with mobility, a natural option that has worked wonders for me is doTERRA’s Deep Blue rub. It provides fast-acting relief and can get you moving in no time. It also comes in an easy-to-use stick form with added copaiba essential oil for extra impact. If you’re interested, you can buy Deep Blue 25% off using my links below.
Growing A Garden: Small, home gardens are another staple of blue zone living. Not only do they provide light physical activity, but they produce high quality food that can be eaten moments after being picked. Gardening is not only valuable for activity and nutrition, but it’s also incredibly rewarding spiritually and emotionally.
I absolutely love gardening. I make time every day to do a little bit of gardening (even in the Canadian winters!). Outside, I have a few garden beds and a green house, and inside I grow sprouts, herbs, and even leafy greens in my grow tower. It’s wonderful to be around living plants that bring vibrant colour and flavour into my life. Start small, wherever you are. It’s worth it!
Learn how I use essential oils to garden naturally in my blog post.
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