The world's healthiest people avoid going to the gym.

No treadmills or weight machines are necessary for optimal health.

Take a look at the world's longest-lived people—they're living proof, not me.

People in the Blue Zones, or regions with the longest life expectancy on Earth, aren't big into weightlifting, running marathons, or joining fitness centers.

On the contrary, they are surrounded by circumstances that subtly urge them to move without their awareness. Because of this, they cultivate gardens, walk frequently, and rely on few mechanical aids around the house and yard.

Among the most frequent habits among the world's longest-lived populations, regular natural movement has been found by Blue Zones experts to be one of the most powerful methods to improve your life span.

Considering how engrossed we are in our computers and desk jobs in today's knowledge economy, this may not seem feasible.

While it may sound idyllic to spend each day moving about at your own pace, the truth is that 90% of the workforce is sedentary now, up from 10% a century ago.

But even with a hectic schedule, there are simple strategies to increase your level of physical activity.

Using an active form of transportation is one of the greatest methods to accomplish this. This could be walking your kids to school, walking or biking to the grocery store, to a friend’s house, or out to dinner.

Ideally, you could walk or cycle to work as well (or walk/bike to the bus or train station, if that’s more practical).

Research reveals that the ideal work commute you can have is a 15-minute walk each way, but any physical exercise built in along your route is a positive. On the flip side, the daily automobile trip is the number two item Americans detest the most on a daily basis, behind only housework (although maybe housework would be more fun if you reminded yourself of the life-extending natural movement involved!).

If active transportation isn’t possible in your town, you can still make time to go out for a stroll.

A recent study from the American Cancer Society indicated that walking for six hours per week resulted in a lower chance of dying from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cancer than not being active at all. But the research also found that walking even as little as two hours per week could lessen the risk of disease and help you live longer.

Walking is also fantastic treatment for your psyche. A daily walk could cut the incidence of dementia by 40%, according to Anders Hansen, a physician and psychiatric specialist from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

If long walks aren’t your thing, cut it up by taking numerous little walks each day instead (five minutes per hour).

Make it a point to stand at your desk, or at least get up and walk around often throughout the day. Get outside during lunch for some fresh air.

The bottom line is that our bodies were intended to move.

And that doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym.

You don’t need to lift big weights or suffer through high-intensity interval workouts to live a long and healthy life.

Simple, natural movement might be even more striking.

Do as the world’s centenarians do—move naturally