week 11 - keep moving!
- Maddie
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
I'm thoroughly enjoying researching for my next Wisdom Woman Ways class - it will feature Japan. I was reading about the extraordinary people of Ogimi, the Okinawan Village of Longevity and realised that the healthiest older people in the world don't necessarily exercise more than we do.
They simply move more often.
That tiny difference may change everything.
Your Body Doesn't Want a Marathon
It just wants to move ...
Modern research into sedentary behaviour has revealed something remarkable.
After about 30 minutes of sitting:
The large muscles in our legs become far less active.
Blood sugar regulation becomes less efficient.
Circulation slows.
Our metabolism begins to reduce.
As sitting continues, these effects accumulate.
HOWEVER ...
Simply standing up and moving for two to five minutes
switches much of this back on again.
It doesn't need to be vigorous.
It simply needs to happen.
Researchers studying regular movement breaks have found improvements in blood sugar control, circulation, energy levels and even concentration when prolonged sitting is interrupted throughout the day.
The Japanese Secret
The people of Okinawa rarely say,
"I'm going for my exercise."
Instead they
garden.
Sweep.
Walk to visit friends.
Prepare meals from scratch.
Sit on the floor.
Stand up again.
Carry shopping.
Stretch naturally.
Movement is woven into everyday life.
It's gentle.
Frequent.
Joyful.
Purposeful.
Perhaps that is one of the greatest secrets of longevity.
When we remain still for long periods, our energies can become sluggish, stagnant or even tangled. Moving wakes them up.
Your brain is constantly updating its internal map of your body.
Scientists call this neuroplasticity—your brain's lifelong ability to reorganise and strengthen its connections.
Every time you move with awareness, thousands of nerve pathways are activated.
Balance improves.
Reaction times sharpen.
Coordination becomes easier.
Even memory and mood benefit because movement increases blood flow and supports the release of chemicals that help brain cells communicate.
Movement is one of the kindest gifts you can offer an ageing brain.
Tiny moments.
Repeated often.
Gentle enough to enjoy.
Powerful enough to matter.
Simply reminding your body that it was designed to move.
One of my favourite Japanese ideas is
Kaizen
It means continuous small improvements.
Not perfection.
Not heroic effort.
Just one tiny step today.
Then another tomorrow.
Five minutes may seem insignificant.
But five minutes repeated eight or ten times throughout the day becomes nearly an hour of movement.
The body doesn't ask us to move perfectly.
It simply asks us to keep moving.
Every five minutes is a love letter to your future self.
P.S. You might find this blog interesting .... it also talks about moving .....
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