Staff Reports | Community Updates
Blue Zones Project Scottsdale is inviting residents to stay active and connect with others this summer through its Indoor Walking Moai, a free 10-week walking series at Scottsdale Fashion Square.
The series begins from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9, and continues Thursday mornings through Sept. 10 at Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road. Participants will meet at the table outside Capital One Café, where Blue Zones Project Scottsdale staff will provide check-in, name tags and Blue Zones T-shirts for first-time participants.
The event is free and open to the public, with advance registration requested through Eventbrite. Same-day registration begins at 8:45 a.m.
The concept of a “moai” originated in Okinawa, Japan — one of the original Blue Zones regions — where groups gather around a shared purpose and support one another over time. The Scottsdale program adapts that concept into a weekly indoor walking group focused on movement and social connection.
“Indoor Walking Moai is simple on purpose,” Executive Director Sarah Kearney said. “People come to walk, but what often happens is bigger than that. They start talking, they recognize each other week after week, and real friendships begin to form. That kind of connection matters, especially when so many people are craving community.”
Blue Zones Project Scottsdale first partnered with Scottsdale Fashion Square and Capital One Café to launch an indoor walking moai in 2024. Since then, participants have continued meeting at the mall throughout the week, building friendships and social connections. Macerich helped promote the original program and is supporting this year’s series as well.
Each week, participants will begin outside Capital One Café before dividing into pace groups based on walking speed. Most walkers complete two to three laps around the mall, creating approximately 45 minutes of indoor exercise. Capital One Café will provide complimentary coffee to participants after each walk.
Participants can expect:
- Free weekly walks during the 10-week series
- Indoor walking routes at Scottsdale Fashion Square
- Multiple pace groups for varying fitness levels
- Opportunities to meet new people and establish routines
- Advance or same-day registration options
- A complimentary Blue Zones T-shirt for first-time participants
- Free coffee from Capital One Café following each walk
“Loneliness and isolation are real issues locally and across the country,” Ms. Kearney said. “In Scottsdale, about one in three residents have no one or only one person they can call in a time of need. A 10-week moai gives people time to move together, talk together and create the kinds of relationships that can support well-being long after the series ends.”
The Indoor Walking Moai also supports Scottsdale’s effort to become a Blue Zones Community. The city is working to implement 13 well-being strategies focused on people, places and policy as part of the certification process. Participation in community engagement activities such as the walking series contributes toward certification goals, according to a press release.
“Community health is not only about big programs or major lifestyle overhauls,” Ms. Kearney said. “It is also about making the healthy choice the easy choice. Walking indoors with friendly faces, in a place people already know, creates a low-pressure way for residents to take one step toward a healthier, more connected Scottsdale.”
