Longevity: Beyond Just Living Longer

Longevity has become an increasingly popular topic in health, wellness and fitness.

With the growing commercialization of longevity, we reached out to Sarkis Hannaian, a PhD candidate in Kinesiology Sciences studying muscle protein metabolism and a personal trainer at McGill Athletics and Recreation, for his perspective and recommendations on which programs and services at the McGill Sports Complex can support a longer, healthier life.

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Understanding Longevity
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From a muscle metabolism standpoint, Sarkis emphasises that skeletal muscle sits at the centre of this. “It’s the organ that lets us move and stay independent. It’s also the largest tissue in the body and the main place where the sugar from our meals gets cleared from the blood. That’s a big part of why staying strong and active helps protect against metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.”
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For Sarkis, “longevity means building and protecting skeletal muscle, the physical reserve that keeps you capable and metabolically healthy later in life.”
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Building Strength and Aerobic Fitness
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The two major pillars of longevity from an exercise standpoint, Sarkis points out, “are building strength and aerobic fitness, both of which are supported by McGill Recreation at the McGill Sports Complex.”
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“For strength, the McGill B2 Gym is a great foundation, and for anyone unsure where to start, personal training and trainer-led classes like Women on Weights are an excellent way to learn proper technique and build confidence with resistance training.”
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For aerobic fitness, Sarkis recommends swimming classes at the Memorial Pool, “particularly for those managing joint pain or returning from injury, as swimming is low impact.”

Supporting Longevity at Every Stage of Life
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One of the major strengths of McGill Recreation, Sarkis mentions, is that its programs and services “are supporting physical activity at different stages of life.”

“The McGill Sports Camp and swimming lessons are offered to children and youth, helping them develop movement skills and establish positive habits early. McGill students also have access to the Sports Complex, helping reduce barriers to participation.”
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For Sarkis, this is important because it reflects the idea that longevity goes beyond living longer. He believes “longevity is not simply about how long we live, but how well we live” and that “establishing consistent habits early can have lasting benefits.”
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Sarkis’s perspective and recommendations reinforce that amid the growing commercialization of longevity, McGill Recreation and the programs offered at the McGill Sports Complex provide an environment to learn, build and maintain healthy habits that support a longer, healthier life.

By: Mark Ausilio