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Blue Zones Project - Monterey County

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Move Naturally
1 Learn more about moving naturally
Five adults walking on the sidewalk with their dog

Move Naturally

The world’s longest-living people don’t pump iron, run marathons, or join gyms. Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving naturally without thinking about it. They grow gardens and don’t rely on mechanical conveniences for house and yard work. Blue Zones Project® works with community and organization leaders to reshape surroundings so people move more without even thinking about it. We harness the power of communities to encourage activity and connection, forming walking groups at worksites, schools, and other local organizations to get people moving on a regular basis. With Blue Zones Project best practices, activity becomes second nature—and part of the culture of well-being.

2 Learn about Moais
Group of adults walking at sunset

What is a Moai?

One of Okinawa’s longevity traditions is social support groups that start in childhood and extend into the 100s. The term “Moai®” (pronounced “mo eye”) originated hundreds of years ago as a kind of financial support system for a village. Today, the idea has expanded to become more of a social support network, a cultural tradition for built-in companionship. In small neighborhoods across Okinawa, friends “meet for a common purpose”—sometimes daily and sometimes a couple days a week—to gossip, experience life, and to share advice and even financial assistance when needed. They call these groups their Moai.

3 Walk this way to new friendships and natural movement

Join a Walking Moai

Get stepping and make new friends.

A Walking Moai is a group of about 5–8 individuals who regularly get together to walk and share in conversation. Ideally, the group commits to meeting once a week for 10 weeks.

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