What’s the secret to a long and healthy life? In Okinawa, there is no secret. It’s a way of life that connects body, mind, and spirit and likely contributes to their average life expectancy of 91 years. Okinawa is known as a blue zone—a place where people live extraordinarily long lives—and has more centenarians per capita than any other area in the world. Once a person reaches the age of 100, they are considered a national treasure.
The Okinawan way of life blends physical activity, mindful eating, stress management, gratitude, and a strong sense of community for a beautiful lifestyle that fosters not only longevity but a fulfilling life at any age.
To care for the body, in Okinawa two themes emerge: everyday activity and good eating habits. When people retire, they choose a physical hobby, within their ability, to pursue. It is very common for families to have gardens that they tend to daily, allowing them a multipurpose practice that offers many health benefits.
In addition to the exercise gardening provides, keeping a garden gives Okinawans access to healthy food in its freshest form. Purple sweet potatoes are the most common food consumed on the island. Okinawans also value fruits and herbs for their healing properties. From a young age, they learn the concept of “hara hachi bu,” a Japanese phrase that means to eat until they are 80 percent full.
For the mind, stress-relieving practices are important for mental health. In Okinawa, it is common to use breathing practices and relaxation techniques to manage stress effectively. In 1901, martial arts was introduced to public schools, teaching children to make the mind more powerful by harnessing discipline.
Okinawans also cultivate gratitude daily, finding joy in life’s simple pleasures. Ultimately understanding that tomorrow isn’t promised, they strive to make every moment and every choice count, as they are a small piece to the bigger picture of life.
Community is their elixir to the spirit. In Okinawa, it is common to be part of the same community for over 50 years. The Japanese term “moai” means “meeting for a common purpose” and refers to a group of lifelong friends that starts in childhood and extends into old age. Building and nurturing long-term bonds, these social support groups connect people to share advice, help one another, and experience life together.
In your journey to longevity, consider including some of these practices in your everyday routine. The concept of community and caring is alive here in the Dripping Springs area—you can find all of the resources to find your tribe right here in this magazine. I look forward to becoming national treasures with you all.
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