Silence. A condition that is absent by everyday life Cosmic life seems to be a key key not only for longevity but also in quality life on Mount Athos. “We all run all of us with an anxiety that dominates us …
My book came from a survey that I did many years As in my trips to Mount Athos I saw that beyond the diet -which is a very big issue, people in this area have other elements that keep them in balance and in their center.
Fasting, harmonious relationship with nature, the spiritual exercise and the silence, But prayer, the sense of belonging, are elements that I studied and analyzed, “Mr. Thodoris Spiliotis, author of the book” The Secrets of the Longevity of the Monks of Mount Athos “, said on the radio of the book” 104.9 fm “.
Reduction of speed, diet based on simplicity and ‘wet gold’
In his book, Mr. Spiliotis compares a today’s world ‘Running with dizzying speed and where the stress And over -consumption has become everyday, “with Mount Athos, a place where time flows differently and where the monks live at a speed reminiscent of other times while following principles that not only give them spiritual fullness, but also impressive longevity.
Simplicity, fasting and tranquility that can be a guide for a healthier and more balanced life along with a health -based diet. “The monks are the first to apply the intermediate fasting we all know, A process that helps both the brain and the soul. The monks make fasting for about 200 days a year following the Orthodox calendar. For example, they have the three -day help in detoxification, so intermittent fasting activates self -treatment mechanisms while decreasing inflammation and the burden of the aging process.
Fasting is therefore not deprivation but a way to give their bodies to rest and regenerate. Modern science confirms what monks have been empirically known for centuries, that a periodic abstinence from food activates the process of autophagia, where cells remove damaged elements and renew -Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2016 Prevention of diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases. Monastic life generally focuses on a simple diet and the monks They are mainly fed with legumes, vegetables, fruits and nuts, foods that cultivate themselves in the gardens of the monasteries with the main source of fat olive oil, the “wet gold”.
In this way they offer even valuable antioxidants and heart protection“Says Mr. Spiliotis. The author adds that it is not only what they eat, but also how they eat as meals are made at a common table, with silence and prayer, which turns into a rite of gratitude at the time of food. At the same time, each bite is consumed with awareness and measure ..
Harmonious coexistence with nature and spiritual exercise
Spiritual exercise is found the core of monastic life while silence is not just what the cosmic We understand as the absence of noise as a “space” is created for internal listening and self -knowledge. “The monks spend much of the day in silence, allowing their minds to calm down and get rid of unnecessary thoughts. Prayer acts as a form of meditation. Prayer and meditation research by Harvard and Stanford have shown that they reduce cortisol, improve cardiac function and enhance mental resilience.
The ascetics are also living in a clean environment away from pollution and even we should choose a walk in the forest and walking in our lives. “There are studies that show that when you move in the woods, your blood pressure drops by 20% and the circadian rhythm is important for our body. Here the monks give a solution as they have routines.
We have given a negative meaning to … routine but it is very important, and this is something we see for example in young children. Mount Athos remains one of the purest and purest habitats in Europe and the monks live in perfect harmony with the natural environment, breathe fresh air, walk on the mountain paths, and this constant contact with nature has measurable health benefits.
Lack of pollution, fresh air and quiet protect their nervous system and enhance the immune system while the monks follow the natural circadian rhythm as they sleep at dusk and wake up before dawn. This allows their bodies to work in accordance with its biological rhythms. For us, it is important to also adopt a stable sleep program that should be combined with the reduction of “blue light” that mobile phones make an hour before bedtime, “Mr. Spiliotis explains.
The community is power and the “blue zones” of the planet
Monks in Mount Athos have additional as he points out Mr. Spiliotis a purpose in their lives while not alone since despite the monastic isolation live in small communities with mutual support elements. They have a sense of belonging and realize that they are not alone in difficulties, which gives mental health beyond physical health. All of the above are elements that Mount Athos shares with the “blue zones” of the planet, the places where people live both qualitatively and for a long time. They are zones from which Ikaria are Greek, Japanese in Okinawa and Sardinia.
‘The common elements of Mount Athos with the “blue zones” are, according to the author, The vegetarian diet with minimal meat, the natural activity integrated into daily life, the sense of life and low levels of stress, the strong social bonds. The monks on Mount Athos have the above and in addition aim to cultivate gratitude, the appreciation of the simple, everyday gifts of life, a central parameter of life in the Athenian state. “
In many ways Mr. Spiliotis appreciates How the monks of Mount Athos show us the way to many, A path we are called upon to follow by adapting it to our own lives. “There is also something important that this community is teaching us to set boundaries in our lives. There is “yes”, there is “no”. Often we in the outside world have no limits. Freedom, democracy, religion have limits.
Boundaries to put on anxiety which and The ascetics themselves in Mount Athos try to avoid, Because these people too are…. It is an stress that comes from what we try to control everything without thinking that there is much that is not in our hand. Acceptance of things is the key to serenity, ”notes Mr. Spiliotis.