We know eating well and moving matter. But research says relationships matter too: socially connected people tend to live longer and have fewer serious health problems.
The problem of loneliness
According to the NIH, about 1 in 3 US adults report feeling lonely. Isolation and loneliness are linked to higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, dementia and early death. Feeling isolated is a form of stress, and chronic stress keeps the body inflamed.
Isolation and loneliness are not the same
Isolation means having few contacts. Loneliness is how we feel. Some people live alone and are fine; others feel lonely in a crowd.
What protects us
- Quality relationships, rather than many shallow ones.
- Feeling that we contribute something to others.
- Feeling heard and understood.
Ideas for building connection
- Start small: chat with the shop assistant or a neighbour.
- Join a group: a choir, a book club, hiking.
- Volunteer.
- Keep in touch with family and friends.
- Practise together: the NIH specifically mention yoga or tai chi classes.
That is why a yoga studio is much more than a place to do poses: it is a community.
Source: NIH News in Health – Build social bonds, protect health.
