The 5-Minute Exercise That Japan’s Longest-Living People Do Every Day
Physical activity is a crucial factor in living a long and happy life. While diet, healthy relationships, and a positive attitude contribute to longevity, the elixir for a long and happy life isn’t complete without exercise. Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, authors of “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life,” spoke to over 100 of the oldest people in Okinawa, Japan, a blue zone with the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. They got a sense of Okinawan centenarians’ daily behaviors, including how they moved their bodies.
Nearly everyone that García and Miralles interviewed said they practice radio taiso, a popular Japanese exercise that has been around for decades. Radio taiso, which translates to “radio exercises,” got its name because instructions for the movements were broadcasted on the radio in 1929. Today, radio taiso still airs daily at 6:30 a.m. on one of Japan’s oldest radio stations, NHK Radio 1, according to a site dedicated to the exercise.
The movements are low-intensity, can be a great way to start your day, and only take about three minutes to complete, the site says. A key goal in radio taiso is to “promote a spirit of unity among participants,” according to García and Miralles. The exercises are typically done in group settings, including in schools before learning and at businesses before working.
Here are some key points about radio taiso:
– Nearly everyone that García and Miralles interviewed said they practice radio taiso.
– The movements are low-intensity, can be a great way to start your day, and only take about three minutes to complete.
– A key goal in radio taiso is to “promote a spirit of unity among participants.”
– The exercises are typically done in group settings, including in schools before learning and at businesses before working.
– Yoga and tai chi were also common practices among older individuals in Japan.
“If you don’t like any of these disciplines, feel free to choose a practice that you love and that makes you move,” García and Miralles wrote. So, if you’re looking to add a quick and easy exercise routine to your day, consider trying out radio taiso.
