Spring Qi Chats | Week 12
Are you a super ager?
This week we discuss the book ‘Super Agers’ and see where longevity doctors are missing the mark on longevity.
Who is Dr. Topol & how can we age well?
Dr. Eric Topol promotes longevity through a science- and data-driven Western medical lens.
Topol's research indicates that lifestyle factors—such as physical activity, diet, sleep, and social engagement—play a more significant role in healthy aging than genetics. His studies found minimal genetic commonality among individuals who age exceptionally well, emphasizing the impact of daily habits.
Regular physical activity, particularly resistance and balance training, is highlighted as the most impactful intervention for extending healthspan—the period of life spent in good health. Topol notes that such exercises are crucial for maintaining strength, mobility, and independence in older adults.
He emphasizes the importance of sleep, diet and social connections that are key to our longevity. I want to share with you how Bamboo Bodies checks off that list of longevity support while filling in the gaps for what age training is truly about.
SUPER AGING VS LONGEVITY?
There were some key ideologies he states about how to ‘climb that hill of aging like a super human so you can age without disease’. But he misses some major points that I want to share with you. Bamboo Bodies is not about ‘getting stronger and stronger so you can avoid injury and never feel old’. That’s an unrealistic claim. Because STUFF HAPPENS and when it does, you’re prepared. Sure, you may have avoided injury and illness by training to life healthy through movement, mindset, nutrition and self-care.
In Chinese culture, longevity 长寿 is highly esteemed and associated with wisdom, good fortune, and spiritual fulfillment. The circular form of the symbol further represents the interconnectedness of all aspects of life, suggesting that longevity is not only about physical health but also encompasses mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This is what Bamboo Bodies is attempting to teach you as well!
1. Linear vs. Cyclical Aging
Topol’s View: Longevity is pursued linearly—more years, more healthspan, more bio-data.
Your Perspective: Aging is seasonal, not linear. Based on Chinese medicine, life flows in cycles—Spring (growth), Summer (action), Autumn (reflection), Winter (rest). The nervous system responds best when trained with these rhythms in mind. Constant forward motion without honoring rest and regeneration leads to burnout and dysregulation.
👉 Argument: Health is not just about more time—it's about deeper seasonal attunement to time.
2. Disease Avoidance vs. Capacity Building
Topol’s View: Focuses on preventing disease by eliminating risk factors.
Your Perspective: Aging well is more than preventing disease—it’s cultivating adaptability. Applied neurology teaches the brain to respond more efficiently to stressors, improving quality of life even in the presence of age-related conditions.
👉 Argument: Train resilience, not just resistance.
3. Longevity as the Goal vs. Harmony as the Goal
Topol’s View: Extending healthy years is the ultimate outcome.
Your Perspective: Longevity is meaningful only when paired with quality, connection, and purpose. The Huang Di Nei Jing emphasizes living in alignment with Heaven (cosmic), Earth (seasonal), and Human (emotional) rhythms. Aging becomes a spiritual and energetic refinement, not just a biological extension.
👉 Argument: Harmony—not just lifespan—is the truest measure of aging well.
Neuro-Qi Tip o’the day!
Find your harmony
Get together with a friend
Go for a walk + get outside
Listen to live music
How can you give back to society?
*Video posts every Friday by 11:30am MDT
Resources:
Chinese Longevity Overview
Dr. Eric Topol ‘Super Agers’
