Across the globe, there are geographic regions that scientists deem blue zones. Blue zones are areas that are studied for their high concentrations of centenarians. That is; populations that remarkably live to be 100 years or more.
I found myself on a rainy first day of Spring in Melbourne, reading Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones; the book for a project undertaken by The National Geographic
By now, it's well understood that strength training extends our quality of life and minimises risk of injury in older populations. Training also lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, and by effect, increases life expectancy.
So I'm turning pages smugly waiting for strength training to come up as a common denominator in the blue zones. Don’t get me wrong, I know these populations are usually remote countryside towns. I’m certain they’re not going to the gym everyday, but I’m curious to learn how they approach physical activity. As expected, there was a high level of natural exercise, but the biggest contributing factor was something that completely took me by surprise. It wasn’t manual labour or physically demanding work, but a sense of connection and belonging that truly preserved these people’s lives.
If you're like me and you live in a big city like Melbourne you'll know that it can get pretty lonely. You’re surrounded by people constantly, but they're always hustling. During the covid lockdowns someone started a tongue-in-cheek brand called ‘I’m busy’. They printed ‘busy’ text on hoodies and merch, and Melbourne loved it. But the confronting thing was — in a period where people needed connection the most — many of us realized we didn't have it.
Joining a gym can help
I was coaching out of my home studio, which I adore. I was seeing my wonderful clients and doing work that truly fulfills me. I was also doing my own training from home which meant I didn't have a gym membership, or work colleagues to banter with.
I did this for more than a year before I realized I was lacking a wider sense of community. All of my interactions were at home and that was ok, but I needed to expand my perimeter to find what I needed.
That week, I did two things.
I found a local coffee shop that brewed a decent chai latte (I don't drink coffee) and made a commitment to go once a week. Tuesday-Chai-Day, I called it. Sometimes I’d take some work to do, but each time I'd spend a few extra minutes chatting to the barista. ‘10% more’ my business coach called it. Every time you connect with someone, give them an extra 10% of your energy. You never know who’s day it might improve, and on a more selfish note, it will definitely improve yours.
The second thing I did was join a gym.
I didn’t need a gym membership. I had all of the equipment I needed in my studio, and I had no problems with self-motivation.
But I realised that training is more than just committing to the practice. It's about the relationships you build in it. The people that are around you to witness it. I'd established solid relationships with my clients and knew that my service provided that for them, but I didn’t have it for myself.
This week marks my 100th visit to the gym since that epiphany. I know because they have an app that keeps count.
Those people in the blue zones thrived on daily connection. Grandparents lived at home with their family and extended family. They had a sense of purpose. Women in Okinawa, Japan had moai; ladies social groups that would meet at 3pm every afternoon for tea and gossip.
I didn’t need the gym physically, but I needed it mentally. I applied the 10% more approach to the gym as well. Every time I trained I’d spend a couple of minutes engaging with the staff, other coaches or regular members I’d see there. My happiness increased. My sense of well being increased. And my training is going pretty well.
Connection doesn’t have to mean deep friendships.
Connection can be daily interactions. A hello to your local postie or barista. A smile across the gym. An encouraging nod. A familiar face when you put your gym bag down.
Next time you have a fleeting interaction with someone, see if you can give 10% more. It’s not about making friends with everyone, but if you can train with a coach that gives you a sense of connection or in a space where you’ll see familiar faces every time you visit, you might just prolong your life expectancy by default.
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