In a 2011 study published in the Lancet, researchers found that those “who exercised for an average of 92 min per week or 15 min a day, had a 14% reduced risk of all-cause mortality (death by any cause), and had a 3 year longer life expectancy. Every additional 15 min of daily exercise beyond the minimum amount of 15 min a day further reduced all-cause mortality by 4%.”
This is a fine study, with a large population studied (over 400,000). This kind of study confirms what seems to make logical sense, if we’re active, we tend to function better, and in a very linear fashion shows we can add years to life.
What isn’t addressed, and in my opinion is every bit as important as life longevity, is quality of life, or adding “life to years.”
What we call exercise today, was for our ancestors movement out of necessity. Movement usually equated to staying alive. Today, we no longer have these concerns and exercise is very often compensatory movement, or movement to make up for a mostly sedentary lifestyle.
Because the clan no longer needs to move to live, and in fact, the group itself has been relegated to a secondary status to the individual, we now find ourselves trudging away on a treadmill, alone, with a headset to keep us company instead of family and friends.
The richness and depth of life, what I feel to be synonymous with wellness, is lost. Yes, exercising by yourself will add years to life, but will it add life to those years? We miss out on the vital and necessary social aspects of life that are the building blocks for wellness or wholeness.
As many of you know, our Vital Life program is based on this fundamental principle, socialization leads to fun and function, and delays frailty and failure. The great news is that by living and participating in the Vital Life, not only will you add years to life with our exciting exercise classes and facility, but you will add life to your years through the richness of our socialization based programs and philosophy. It’s a win-win!
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