In the Valley, summer wellness does not have to mean braving triple-digit heat or building healthy habits alone. Beginning July 9, Blue Zones Project Scottsdale is inviting residents to step inside, move at their own pace and connect through its Indoor Walking Moai at Scottsdale Fashion Square, a free 10-week walking series created to support movement, friendship and community well-being.
The series begins Thursday, July 9, and continues Thursday mornings through Sept. 10 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road. Participants will meet at the table outside Capital One Café, where the Blue Zones Project Scottsdale team will check in walkers, provide name tags and offer Blue Zones T-shirts to first-time participants. Same-day sign-up begins at 8:45 a.m.
The event is free and open to all, with advance registration requested through Eventbrite. Each participant should register separately using their own email address.
The concept of a “moai” comes from Okinawa, Japan, one of the original blue zones regions, where small groups gather around a shared purpose and support one another over time. In Scottsdale, the idea translates into a simple weekly walk designed to help people move, talk and build community indoors.
“Indoor Walking Moai is simple on purpose,” says Sarah Kearney, executive director of Blue Zones Project Scottsdale. “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 on an indoor walking moai in 2024. Since then, a group of participants has continued walking at the mall every Tuesday through Saturday, with many building friendships and spending time together outside of the walks. Macerich helped market the first walk and is helping promote this year’s series as well.
Each week, walkers will begin outside Capital One Café on the lower level before dividing into pace groups. Most participants walk two to three times around the mall, creating about 45 minutes of indoor movement in a cool, familiar setting. Capital One Café will offer free coffee to participants each week, and many walkers gather there after the walk to continue the conversation.
Indoor Walking Moai participants can expect:
- Free weekly walks. The 10-week series is free and open to the community, with advance registration encouraged through Eventbrite.
- Cool indoor movement. Walkers meet inside Scottsdale Fashion Square and follow an indoor route for about 45 minutes, offering a summer-friendly way to stay active.
- Flexible pace groups. Participants are divided by walking speed before the walk begins, making the experience comfortable for a range of fitness levels.
- A built-in social reset. The program helps people meet others, create routine and build lasting connections over time.
- Easy check-in. Attendees may register in advance or arrive at 8:45 a.m. to complete a waiver and sign in.
- Community perks. First-time participants receive a Blue Zones T-shirt at check-in. Participants also receive a name tag, and Capital One Café will provide free coffee each week.
“Loneliness and isolation are real issues locally and across the country,” Kearney says. “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 path toward becoming a Blue Zones Community®. To earn certification, Scottsdale is working to implement 13 well-being improvement strategies across people, places and policy. Moai participation is one engagement activity that can help move the community toward certification, with a target of at least 15% of Scottsdale residents age 15 and older participating in an engagement activity.
“Community health is not only about big programs or major lifestyle overhauls,” Kearney adds. “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.”
Participants are encouraged to attend all 10 weeks to get the full benefit of the moai experience, but drop-ins are welcome. The Indoor Walking Moai meets Thursday mornings, July 9 through Sept. 10, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Participants should meet at the table outside Capital One Café. For more information and registration, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/indoor-walking-moai-bzp-scottsdale-tickets-1990447962437.
