If longevity is your goal.........

[Bluth]

What would be the best way to go in terms of a workout program?

[Agota]

Posting more details about yourself might help you to get more answers, because obviously the answers would be different for males and females, it would also be different for someone who's 22 years old and for someone who's 57 years old, etc, as well as for someone who has a normal weight and someone who's overweight, etc. Sharing more details about yourself might help you get a better answer.

[Bluth]

I'm a male in my mid-twenties of normal weight.

I know the three pillars to longevity as far as exercise is concerned are: Aerobics/Strength Training/Flexibility

I'm just trying to figure out how to combine these three facets into a solid routine.

I'm focused especially on the strength training aspect right now to find something that does its job and doesn't bust up my joints anymore.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by Bluth

What would be the best way to go in terms of a workout program?

Hatha yoga is the subdivision of the yogic sciences that deals with health and longevity, I know of no other technology that has studied human anatomy, vital energy and emotional health to this extent or length of time developing numerous skillful techniques and comprehensive methodologies to prolong healthy human existence, although one must consider priorities since sooner or later everyone will age, get sick and die therefore the investment in finite gross body verses the infinite spirit should be placed into perspective.

[Clint Cora]

For flexibility, you would most definitely have to explore yoga, dance or martial arts. I have found that even in general fitness classes, the stretching that they do is quite limited and in my opinion, will not do much for flexibility.

It's usually in the domains of yoga, dance or martial arts where flexibility is an important factor, you will get some really useful exercises for this.

But at least you are wise enough to recognize that flexibility is an important component of overall fitness. Many times this area is ignored in fitness.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

For flexibility, you would most definitely have to explore yoga, dance or martial arts. I have found that even in general fitness classes, the stretching that they do is quite limited and in my opinion, will not do much for flexibility.

It's usually in the domains of yoga, dance or martial arts where flexibility is an important factor, you will get some really useful exercises for this.

But at least you are wise enough to recognize that flexibility is an important component of overall fitness. Many times this area is ignored in fitness.

This is the typical modern mindset/perception of yoga, where does one begin to start the awakening? Realizing the center of consciousness is a far cry from flexibility. There are hundreds upon hundreds of Hatha techniques to preserve the body, simply a side effect of the eight limbs of yoga.

[Alen]

I think this is what you are looking for:

LINK

This man's research in the human performance and health is unbelievable.

[KtotheB]

I agree with Raykilleen on the yoga!

In ayurvedic medicine, it is recommended to exercise only to 50%- 60% of your limit in order to avoid stress on the body. This is something I came across recently and I found interesting, because we're so used to "over-doing it" rather than "under-doing it"

[Carri C]

i've read eating less, on the whole, goes a long way towards longevity.

[raykilleen]

Originally Posted by Carri C

i've read eating less, on the whole, goes a long way towards longevity.

Hatha yogis discovered this thousands of years ago, like I mentioned there is no technology on the planet with more scientific experience, how can you compare anything else to thousands of years of obsessive awareness, trial, error and results?

[Perspective]

Originally Posted by Carri C

i've read eating less, on the whole, goes a long way towards longevity.

I've heard that too.
I skimmed through a book about Centurions (those who live past 100 years).
Some tips I remember...

*Eat fresh food (as recently picked as possible... often frozen food is fresher than produce since it was frozen soon after picking where as produce sits in trucks a while)
*Little sugar/salt
*Eat slowly (chew well)... at a relaxed pace... but food is not the focus of social gatherings, visiting is.
*Walk a lot (many centurians were hiking up mountains into their 90's...)
*Eat a type of yogurt
*Have social support
*Have a passion... love people, be excited about some purpose.

There are many more listed here...
Hundred Years to Live 100 years - long life

[Brutha]

I know the three pillars to longevity as far as exercise is concerned are: Aerobics/Strength Training/Flexibility

From where did you get that information?

In addition to improving fitness martial arts also helps you with social confidence towards other men. Healthwise the problem is the risk of injury possiblity of injuries.

I think that dancing is perfect excericse for longevity. Most of the people I meet at a Salsa club look a lot younger than they are.
Dancing not only helps pure physical health but also mental health and reduces the chances that you get alzheimers.

I'm at the moment planning to add a activity that teaches proper movement in daily life.
There's Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Method and somatic-psychoeducation.

[Bluth]

Originally Posted by Brutha

From where did you get that information?

In addition to improving fitness martial arts also helps you with social confidence towards other men. Healthwise the problem is the risk of injury possiblity of injuries.

I think that dancing is perfect excericse for longevity. Most of the people I meet at a Salsa club look a lot younger than they are.
Dancing not only helps pure physical health but also mental health and reduces the chances that you get alzheimers.

I'm at the moment planning to add a activity that teaches proper movement in daily life.
There's Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Method and somatic-psychoeducation.

My research on longevity has suggested to me that these three pillars are necessary for not only longevity but a health life in general.

I've got a routine for aerobics, and flexibility, now I'm trying to get my strength training routine the way it should be.

[Lifeisamazing]

It's super hard to answer this question, but I believe that it's a mix of these things:
- Yoga for breathing and stretching (relaxation and flexibility)
- Strength training for more muscle mass, less body fat, stronger bones, better muscle balance
- Power training for better speed and reaction
- Massage (not necessarily exercising but a part of it nonetheless) for better tissue quality
- Sprinting and intervals for improved cardiovascular health
- Occasional sports playing for the social aspect

I think what you want to achieve with exercise for better longevity are:
- Better muscle mass
- Lower body fat
- Better muscle balance
- Stronger, faster, more powerful, and more durable body
- Less mental stress
- Better tissue quality
- Better flexibility

[Criseyde]

Find something you love to do and do a lot of it.

[Brutha]

My research on longevity has suggested to me that these three pillars are necessary for not only longevity but a health life in general.

Tim Ferriss writes in the 4-hour-workweek that the idea of aerobics was invented in gyms who wanted to have courses that they can sell without needing expensive equipment.

There are a lot of ideas about health out there that are simply based on a fashion that some party with financial interest created.

It makes therefore sense to ask for reasoning or sources behind claims.

Originally Posted by Lifeisamazing

It's super hard to answer this question, but I believe that it's a mix of these things:

Is there a reason why your list doesn't include the idea of balance or coordination of movement?

[Lifeisamazing]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Is there a reason why your list doesn't include the idea of balance or coordination of movement?

I pretty much consider it under strength training. This is my idea of balance: bruno082985's Channel - YouTube

[Bluth]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Tim Ferriss writes in the 4-hour-workweek that the idea of aerobics was invented in gyms who wanted to have courses that they can sell without needing expensive equipment.

There are a lot of ideas about health out there that are simply based on a fashion that some party with financial interest created.

It makes therefore sense to ask for reasoning or sources behind claims.
Is there a reason why your list doesn't include the idea of balance or coordination of movement?

Tim Ferriss makes a lot of claims, but cardiovascular exercise is good for you.

[Brutha]

Tim Ferriss makes a lot of claims, but cardiovascular exercise is good for you.

Point being, how do you know?

I pretty much consider it under strength training. This is my idea of balance: bruno082985's Channel - YouTube

The kind of balance that you need in daily life is about getting from a state that only a bit disbalanced back to a state where your movement flows well. I don't think that gets trained if you are completely tensed up while you do your balance exercise.
I don't think the exercise makes you feel and correct small issues with being out of balance.
If I do a triple salsa spin and I have bad balance I fall over. A little amount of being out of balance is enough to bring me out of balance.

[Bluth]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Point being, how do you know?

Experience.