Live Long and Prosper
January 14, 2010 by Michael Wayne
Filed under Longevity
Today begins the first series of the year – on Longevity.
Why longevity? By living a Low Density Lifestyle and experiencing exceptional health, it increases the odds of living long many times over.
Experiencing longevity is also about living a vital life well into your later years. It’s one thing to live a long life, it’s another thing to live a long life well.
The Chinese symbol for longevity
It can be done, and many have done it and are doing it in this day and age. We’ll meet some of them over the course of this series.
As Mr. Spock always said, “Live Long and Prosper.” Right below is a video of Mr. Spock stating his famous Vulcan salute.
Studies of cultures that are known for longevity have found certain common attributes, and many of these traits are the lifestyle characteristics of a Low Density Lifestyle.
These characteristics are such things as:
***Eating a simple, whole foods, plant-based diet
***Eating less, not more
***Being active, and moving in ways that accentuate flow
***Making quiet time and also making time to relax, unwind,
destress and decompress
***Being happy and having a joyful approach to life
***Exercising your mind and having a purpose in life
***Maintaining a connection to the spiritual dimension of life
At the top of the page is a video from CBS News. When you watch it (there’s a short 15 second commercial for Ford at the very beginning, so please be patient), you’ll understand why longevity isn’t something you experience only if you’re lucky enough to have the right genes. There’s a common denominator that is found with people who live long lives, as the two experts on the CBS program state. These common denominators are the ones listed above.
And they are the common denominators of living a Low Density Lifestyle.
So I say to you, as all Vulcans say to one another, Live Long and Prosper! And remember, you don’t have to be a Vulcan to give the Vulcan salute.
Live a long life, and live it well…
I’ll be back tomorrow with the story of a man who just passed away the other day at the age of 104, and lived an incredibly vital life, well into his later years.
I want to put in a plug for social/couples dancing as the ideal longevity exercise. In particular, ballroom, latin, swing … but most lead-and-follow dances. There benefits to those who might otherwise fall prey to the slow loss that is aging, are legion.
1) strength, flexibility, stamina. If you’ve ever danced or watched closely as someone danced … it is immediately obvious how many muscle groups come into play. How you have to stretch and lightly stress your body … step, step, retreat, dip, stop, start … and so on. Try doing it for a night and you’ll see the next morning how much you’ve used your body.
2) timing, coordination. When you dance to music, it’s all about staying on the beat, moving to the rhythm and the mood. This requires real integration of body and mind. Listening, starting to move, moving, slowing down, stopping … speeding up suddenly, stopping with grace and strength … and on and on.
3) interaction, communication with your partner. In dancing, you need to be sensitive to your partner in every moment. The leader moves, the partner responds. The leader pushes, follower retreats or perhaps pushes back, depending on the dance and the music. Lead, follow, stop, start … it is literally a dance of communication and sensitivity. Partners are forced to keep their communication skills and sensitivity at a peak.
4) planning, mental activity, awareness. For leaders in particular, in the lead-follow couple. Leaders must always be aware of the shifting configuration of the dance floor. Who is where, who is moving where, what the music is moving towards and how the leader wishes to guide the dance along that direction. Seeing what is here now and planning what will be 4,5 or 10 seconds later … all of these skills are exercised and developed.
5) reflexes. This goes along closely with item 3. The music changes, speeds up, slows down, pauses … the dance and the couple must change. Leader leads and follower follows … if the follower is a bit slow and didn’t get the lead, the leader must adjust the flow, pause, stop, change into something else. And must do so within a limited time frame.
6) involvement with other human beings. When you dance to inevitably mix with, interact with a group of other human beings. In doing so, the possibility of isolation that might result from the death of spouse, friends, family, is much reduced. And many studies have shown that maintaining meaningful human relationships is an important factor in longevity.
Thanks Ryu, that’s really great what you’re saying. I like all your points, and you’re also so right with point number 6, about social/human interaction. I would like to add that one of the things I’ve been saying about living a Low Density Lifestyle is movement and exercise, and especially in ways that accentuate flow. Everything you point out above about dance shows that dance is a great way to achieve flow.