My father was obsessed with health and self-preservation. He swam, cycled, played basketball, ping pong, tennis and golf and even did a bit of body building in his youth. He lived to 90. Born in China, he moved to Thailand when he was 8. If he had gone to Okinawa or Singapore he may have been in one of the Blue Zones and become a centenarian.

My aunt (pictured) remained in China and lived to 94.

I have been teaching taiji and qigong at Morley college for 27 years. In the year of the Rabbit, we said goodbye to two incredible women. Julia, who was in the class before I took over, kept me on my toes. She attended a weekly class at Waterloo in her last month and reached her 90th birthday. Alison who I relied on to keep us on track when I went astray in the long Chen forms was 94 when she came to her last class right up until her last month.

As a practioner of East Asian medicine and health exercise, part of my role is to engage my patients and students in practices that will not only improve their health but which they find enjoyable and attainable in our busy lives. This is the secret to adherence.

From the 2000 year-old Huangdi Neijing, to Zoe, Just one thing to Secrets of the Blue zone these are then tenets of longevity:
* good diet
* regular exercise
* avoid sitting
* social interactions (inter-generational)
* appreciation and living with nature & the seasons

Tips and talks
* Live Well Live Long: Teachings from the Chinese Nourishment of Life Tradition by Peter Deadman
* Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones (series with Dan Buettner to discover five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives.)
* Add a decade to your life (Prof Andy Galpin professor of kinesiology at California State University talks to Zoe about exercise)
* Just One Thing – Exercise Special (Dr Michael Mosley talks to Prof Marie Murphy)