In these destinations, the focus of a new Netflix series, wellness isn’t a conscious goal, but an ancient way of life.
As the modern wellness trend continues its march, more travelers are incorporating health-focused activities, from yoga retreats to vegan food tours, into their trips. Yet there are a handful of destinations around the world where wellness isn’t a conscious goal, but an ancient way of life, and whose inhabitants live remarkably long and happy lives.
They’re called Blue Zones. And they’re the subject of a popular new docuseries on Netflix, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, hosted by author, educator and National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner.
Buettner has extensively studied the world’s Blue Zones – there are only five in the world – and drawn some simple if surprising conclusions about these far-flung areas.
“I have found that most of what people think leads to a long, healthy life is misguided or just plain wrong,” says Buettner in the series, dismissing the fitness obsessions and health crazes we’re all too familiar with. “The fact of the matter is that most of us are leaving good years on the table.”
The answer varies, though residents in all five Blue Zones share several characteristics. Their community members tend to live an active lifestyle, surrounded by friends and family. In general, they are religiously observant, or adhere to a shared belief system. Their diet tends to be plant-based – with a glass of wine or two to unwind.
Yet each has unique characteristics that you need to experience in person (or at least via Netflix) to fully understand. Here is a short introduction to the world’s five Blue Zones.
With an aging population and millions of people living alone, Japan is experiencing a loneliness epidemic, which is linked to higher rates of depression, dementia and heart disease. But on the island chain of Okinawa, tight-knit communities are bucking the trend – and living ever longer as a result. More people here reach the age of 100 than almost anywhere else on earth.
Some put it down to moai, traditional social groups formed in childhood and continued throughout adulthood through regular meet-ups. These networks provide lifelong friendship, as well as practical, spiritual and financial support. Centenarians also credit ikigai, or a sense of purpose, as a driver of longevity. They achieve such purpose is achieved by, for example, growing their own vegetables such as sweet potato, goya (bitter melon) and kabocha squash, all known for their health benefits. Diet-wise, the mantra “hara hachi bu”– eat until you’re 80% full – may also be a factor.
You can learn about the art of endurance at a homestay in the rural Okinawan village of Ogimi, where you can witness the
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October heralds the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness: the perfect time for trips that embrace the natural world, its changing hues and abundant produce. From mushrooms to apples, pumpkins to olives, tours across the UK and Europe are ripe with foodie opportunities, whether encountered through a harvest or on a foraging course.This is also a great time to be bagging the last beach break of the season while easy access destinations in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East are still basking in sunshine and coastal resorts and seasonal ferries have yet to shut up shop. But if you're weary of sun and sand, October also comes with some tempting urban escapes. From Montreal to Manhattan, Boston to Baltimore, cities along North America's east coast are at their most atmospheric this month, rich with fiery autumn colours and Halloween festivities.
It depends on what type of trip you’re looking to take. However, spring and autumn tend to be the most beautiful weather-wise. We’d recommend a trip between March and May or September and November. If you’re looking to steer clear of crowds, then a trip in May after Golden Week is for you.
The first time I was introduced to a Japanese workout routine called Radio Taiso was on a trip to Japan in 2020. Radio Taiso is translated as "radio calisthenics," and it's based on a public-radio broadcast that began in 1928 in Japan.
Nicknamed the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas,’ Manila is quickly becoming a destination city in Southeast Asia. With a population of just under 13 million, the coastal city is brimming with life. From edgy art exhibits and a food scene with serious culinary chops to more traditional cultural gems like jeepneys and open-air markets, the capital of the Philippines has something to offer all kinds of travelers.
Some say that Chicago is at its best in the fall. The leaves start their vibrant transformation and the Windy City welcomes the enchanting season of autumn by offering a rich tapestry of colors, flavors, and experiences. From celebrating Halloween in unique ways to taking an architectural boat tour, here are 11 things to do in Chicago this season.
The world’s longest-lived people aren't gym obsessive or taking every vitamin and supplement under the sun. They are living life fully, slowly, and consuming a whole-food, plant-based diet. These few and far-between centenarians primarily live in what has been coined by medical statistician Dr. Gianni Pes as “Blue Zones,” or areas that produce about 10 times more centenarians per capita than the United States. With the recent release of the Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones documentary on Netflix, the Blue Zone concept is going viral again with Google searches trending up as people seek to live a healthier life of purpose, with a particular focus on food.
OK, so I cheated. But with a panorama like this, can you blame me? Our yogic sensei (master) is counting us through meditative breathing — inhale ichi, ni, san; exhale ichi, ni, san — and despite her instruction to keep eyes closed, I’ve cracked open my right lid. Beyond the deck where 20-odd people are breathing serenely in unison, I spy a rambling green expanse of forest stretching to meet the Seto Inland Sea. I feel suspended above the foliage, weightless in space. This definitely beats meditating in a packed London studio.
From harbor-front Hong Kong glam to old-school European luxury, a just-released list of the best hotels on the planet offers a handy guide to traveling the world in high style – or at least assembling a list of dream accommodations.