Blue Zones: Move Naturally + Conclusion

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In this final blog post about the Blue Zones, I would like to discuss one healthy habit that I practice in my own life. To wrap up this series, I will also reflect on what I feel is still missing from the Power 9.


Move Naturally

"The world’s longest-lived people don’t pump iron, run marathons, or join gyms. Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. They grow gardens and don’t have mechanical conveniences for house and yard work."
— Power 9

One of the nine habits of centenarians in the Blue Zones is "moving naturally." I remember watching the documentary back then and noticing how remarkably active all these elderly people were. You even see people in Loma Linda (US) playing tennis and those in Costa Rica riding horses. However, most of them simply "move naturally" by working in their vegetable gardens or by walking fifteen minutes to church in super steep Sardinia! In one way or another, they are all physically active.

It seems obvious, but I don’t think it really is. How many people over 80 are stuck in their armchairs? People who are in so much pain and so stiff that moving hurts? I think we all know, or have known, at least one person like that. And honestly, I understand them. I have experienced a lot of physical pain myself, and it is very tempting to just sit down and set up camp there, because movement just seems to make the pain worse. Yet, in my experience, that isn't always the case. Gentle movement can loosen everything up, and repeating it regularly can truly work wonders for both body and mind. That is exactly what I find so beautiful about their lifestyle: they don’t run marathons and they don’t have gym memberships. Instead, they walk, garden, or clean their homes. It keeps us moving and prevents us from stiffening up, and I think that is what matters most in the long run.

I am only 36 myself, but as someone with PTSD, my body is constantly in survival mode. The alarm signals in my body often go off all at once, which frequently causes physical pain. So, intense working out is out of the question for me. Mind you, I used to do it. For a few years, I was a very fervent runner: 10 km before the workday started, 20 km on weekends, and all of this every couple of days. I had many injuries but was incapable of listening to my body. My only goal was to numb myself by chasing an endorphin high, so I wouldn’t have to feel the pain in my heart. When my body completely locked up in 2015 and I couldn't do anything at all anymore, I had to throw in the towel. No more excessive exercising, and eventually, not even gentle walking or cycling. I could do nothing but sit in a chair or a wheelchair, and when I started teaching again after six months, it was with a cane. I used that cane for two years. As a 25-year-old, that is the last thing you want, but it was exactly what I needed.

I have been without that cane for a long time now, partly because I completely turned my life around. Over the years, I received many diagnoses, each one wider off the mark than the last. Fibromyalgia, spasmophilia, some kind of hormonal imbalance that supposedly caused muscle pain... None of them were right. The only correct diagnosis came in 2022: PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). I have been in therapy for this for years now. There, I am learning tools to ground myself and feel safe, which helps quiet the alarm bells in my nervous system and reduces my physical pain.

Because of this, I can't do intense sports, but I can move. I don't experience moving naturally as an obligation or a struggle, but as something that—in a gentle and balanced way—makes me happy. I find a lot of healing in regularly taking a walk in the park, cycling everywhere (I don't own a car, which is sometimes a true blessing!), cleaning my apartment, and washing my windows (which is honestly a workout in itself!). It feels good, and that is exactly what I need in my recovery process. If I can keep moving like this for the rest of my life—regularly and in moderation—then just like the people in the Blue Zones, I hope to grow old healthy and happy myself!

My Review of the Blue Zones Power 9 (And What’s Missing)

Well, there you have it—my take on the Power 9 (okay, okay, the Power 6, since I consciously chose to skip three of them!). I find the Blue Zones absolutely fascinating because I believe there is so much wisdom in them; they offer great guidelines for leading a healthy life. So, I’m definitely a fan! However, by taking the time to reflect on them more deeply here, I’ve realized that three things are still missing for me (so it turns out to be my own Power 9 after all?).

The first is the healing power of nature. I didn’t encounter this anywhere in the Power 9, and I really felt its absence. I actually wrote about the power of plants recently. I live in a large Flemish city, where nature is obviously quite limited. When I think of other places in the world with mountains, breathtaking starry skies, or vast forests, I immediately feel how much good just the thought of it does. Only nature has the power to take your breath away and give it back to you at the same time. Because I was surprised by its absence in the Power 9, I looked it up. It sounds obvious, but I hadn’t realized it yet: most Blue Zones are naturally located in environments rich in nature! Sardinia, Greece, Costa Rica... they are all by the sea! In fact, you can find an article on this very topic on the Blue Zones website.

The second is the healing effect of creative hobbies. I missed this as well; it didn’t seem to pop up anywhere. In my own life, it is becoming increasingly clear how important this is and how much positive energy it brings out in me.That is the "flow" I spoke about in my previous article, of course. I looked it up just to be sure, and there is an article about this on the Blue Zones website as well! It is definitely worth a read. Among other things, it mentions that scientific research has shown that practicing art forms reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, and also lowers the risk of dementia. Interesting, isn't it?

But what I miss most of all is that there is no mention of living righteously. Not lying or cheating, not manipulating, not being trapped in addictive behavior, not gossiping... It might sound like nitpicking on my part, but how can you truly be happy and feel good about yourself if you do do all those things? I know better than anyone that it ultimately just eats away at you, making you sick and depressed. So, as far as I’m concerned, living a righteous and well-grounded life should definitely be part of the Power 9!
 

Well, those were my personal experiences with the Power 9 of the Blue Zones! What did you think? Did any of this resonate with you, is there an area you would like to grow in, or is there something you are already a total pro at and want to share tips on? Feel free to leave a comment and let me know!