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The secret to a longer, healthier life, could be acting like a monkey, experts suggest
You might want to swap that Dumbbell for a banana because, apparently, behaving like a monkey is a great way to get healthier and increase your life expectancy.
Though death is a completely normal thing, or at least it is for the moment, humans are obsessed with living longer and healthier lives. If life-increasing activities like journaling aren’t your thing, then you might consider doctor-approved lifestyle changes as a more worthwhile avenue.
Let’s go ape with fitness
Though no one is suggesting you quit your job and retire to the rainforest, we could actually learn a thing or two from our distant relatives in the jungle. After all, we were once just like them as we traveled and moved using only our bodies and not technological crutches and tools.
Specifically, experts are interested in the act of hanging and how the monkey-like activity can be a vital component in your health arsenal.
Of course, hanging from anything requires a strong grip, which has been linked with faster aging. One study even found that death was 16% more likely for each 11-pound drop in grip strength.
Dead hangs, the act of simply hanging from something with straight arms, has also been connected to increased shoulder mobility and stability.
A lot of people find that dead hangs where you simply hang on to something with straight arms, and let the rest of your body dangle help to increase their shoulder mobility and stability, which can help to prevent injuries, says personal trainer Mike Julom. They also strengthen upper body muscles like the lats and traps, situated in the mid and upper back, which help to address some of the postural problems that can develop from sitting at a desk all day,” personal trainer Mike Julom told The Guardian. “They also strengthen your core muscles, as youll use them to stabilize yourself as you hang.
Have a little patience
Like with any physical activity, including other animal-themed exercises like squatting with your dog, channeling your inner monkey is going to take some work.
To begin, you’re going to need to start by holding onto a bar for 30 to 60-second intervals, depending on your general fitness level.
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can build the habit by hanging for a few seconds each time you enter a specific room. Over time, this will make your monkey fitness activities progressively easier.
You can adjust the resistance by having the bar or rings at a lower height, or a small step underneath you, so that your feet can touch the ground in a squat position, personal trainer Amanda Grimm suggested. You can adjust the intensity by gently lifting your feet up until you have just your toes on the floor.
When you’re ready to move on to more adept activities, The Guardian’s health experts suggest scapula pull-ups, kip swings, side-to-side swings, and brachiation.
