Four Weeks In, and a Map to Show for It

Back in June, Dr. Hyunjoo Lee Rotarian, Lifestyle Medicine Professional, and Blue Zones Certified Health Professional asked Bowen Island Rotary a simple question: could Bowen be a Blue Zone?

This was followed up by an invitation to participate in a four-week, Blue Zones-inspired pilot program, hosted by Rotary and led by Hyunjoo, which wrapped up this month.

Here’s what happened: each week, participants gathered on Monday evenings to work through the lifestyle habits research has linked to longevity and wellbeing the “Power 9” framework, adapted for life on Bowen:

• Week 1 — Move Naturally: building movement into everyday life rather than relying on scheduled exercise.
• Week 2 — Plant Slant & the 80% Rule: shifting toward plant-forward eating and eating with intention, not to the point of fullness.
• Week 3 — Purpose & Downshifting: identifying personal purpose, and building in deliberate ways to de-stress.
• Week 4 — Right Tribe & a Bowen Action Plan: surrounding yourself with people who support healthy habits, and mapping out what that looks like here on Bowen specifically.

Rotary hosted and sponsored the sessions; Hyunjoo designed and taught the curriculum herself.

By the end of the four weeks, participants reported real, tangible shifts: improvements in weight management and eating habits, and more consistent routines around movement, sense of purpose, and stress management. Certificates were presented to everyone who completed the course.

We asked participants what stayed with them most. A few common threads came through: a new awareness of the daily habits that support health, a clearer sense of how the 80% Rule and community participation feed into wellbeing, and a stronger connection with local people.

Some shared it in their own words:

“I’m living a 95% vegetarian diet. Exercising. Meditating. Being with friends. So some of the questions about ‘am I doing something more’ don’t really apply. But I didfeel that reviewing these principles was very helpful. I enjoyed the information.”

“I think Bowen is well on the way to becoming a Blue Zone.”

The result is the Bowen Blue Zones-Inspired Community Directory/Map — a practical tool for finding your own “Right Tribe” on Bowen, whatever habit you’re trying to build.

What it is: an interactive matrix of local community groups, organized by which Blue Zones principle they support movement, purpose, plant-based eating, stress relief, and more.

Why it matters: it turns “I should get out more” or “I should find people who share this” into something you can actually act on.

How to use it: open the directory, pick the category that matches what you’re working on, and browse the groups listed there with contact details to reach out directly.

Click the button to go to the Bowen Community directory, use your back-button to return here.

Bowen Islanders explore Blue Zones concepts with Dr. Hyunjoo Lee

What’s Next

This was a pilot and it worked. Cohort 2 is already planned for mid-October, again hosted by Rotary. If you want to get involved:

• Explore the directory and find a group aligned with your own Blue Zone goals.
• Watch for Cohort 2 registration details this fall.
• Have a correction or addition? Reach out to Rotary we’re still filling in gaps.

This pilot is inspired by Blue Zones principles and the Power 9 framework, developed independently by Bowen Island Rotary Club with Dr. Hyunjoo Lee. It is not an official Blue Zones Project.