Step 3 on our journey to achieving holistic health is, of course, exercise! Movement is key to good health - in fact, it is one of the most essential factors for a healthy life.
For the most part, how you move isn't as important as how much you move, but there is some evidence that certain types of exercise are more conducive to good health and longevity. Hours of long-form exercise that stresses the joints and organs (think marathon running) may in fact shorten the lives of those who make that their main form of exercise. But in general, as long as you're moving, you're improving your health.
Unfortunately, for most of us in today's modern world, exercise seems to be thought of as more of an optional hobby than an essential need like food and sleep - even though it is equally as important for long-term health! You will not die of lack of exercise within a few days or weeks like you would without food, water, and sleep, but you WILL die of it eventually - far sooner than you would if you treated it as the essential need that it is.
As I explain below, in order to stay lively and healthy throughout your natural lifespan, you need to get moving!
For the most part, how you move isn't as important as how much you move, but there is some evidence that certain types of exercise are more conducive to good health and longevity. Hours of long-form exercise that stresses the joints and organs (think marathon running) may in fact shorten the lives of those who make that their main form of exercise. But in general, as long as you're moving, you're improving your health.
Unfortunately, for most of us in today's modern world, exercise seems to be thought of as more of an optional hobby than an essential need like food and sleep - even though it is equally as important for long-term health! You will not die of lack of exercise within a few days or weeks like you would without food, water, and sleep, but you WILL die of it eventually - far sooner than you would if you treated it as the essential need that it is.
As I explain below, in order to stay lively and healthy throughout your natural lifespan, you need to get moving!
Unlike more naturally sedentary animals, our biology shows that we were not designed for extended hibernation - or even for sleeping for most of the day like carnivorous animals to conserve energy for the hunt. Instead, like other primates, we were designed to move nearly constantly throughout our waking hours.
For some of us, it may not feel like this, but this is most likely because your body is out of balance due to lack of exercise (and/or good nutrition). When your metabolism slows, you tend to feel sluggish, low-energy, and not have much of an appetite for exercise.
However, have you ever noticed how people who are happy, healthy, and energetic all tend to get a fair amount of exercise? Have you ever met a truly happy and healthy person who didn't exercise? I don't think I have...
Movement is not just essential for your physical health - it also has boundless benefits for your mental health, energy, and emotional well-being. This is because we were meant to move!
Everything tells us this - if we just pay attention. Our moods, our physical health, the way our body feels - everything points us to the fact that when we move more, we are simply happier and healthier.
Biologically, movement helps to fire up your metabolism, aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients, releases toxins through sweating, and regulates organ and brain function. Physical activity also helps to regulate the hormones and other compounds that impact our mood and sleep patterns. In fact, some doctors now believe that exercise may be the best cure for chemical imbalances in the brain that cause depression and other related issues of mental wellness.
On the other hand, not exercising, as we have seen both in our own population and among animals in captivity, leads to depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, physical pain and stiffness, and mental and emotional imbalances - as well as physical diseases such as heart problems, cancer, and osteoporosis.
Yes, humans were meant to move - all the time - and vigorously. Not just a 40-minute jog on the treadmill, a 30-minute yoga class, or a walk around the block once a day. For true, holistic health, your body needs to be challenged, on a regular and ongoing basis. Otherwise, we will suffer the plight of animals in captivity - disease, unhappiness, and a shortened lifespan.
This might not be what you want to hear, but if you want optimal health, it's what your body needs. It is true that any exercise is better than none, and studies show that even 15 minutes of vigorous exercise per day can improve your health to some degree. But to achieve the level of physical health that your body is capable of, you will have to do more.
Set a goal to challenge your body - this means sweating, building muscle, strengthening your bones and joints - and doing it every day. Vary your activities - lift weights, do bodyweight exercises like pushups, pull ups, and dips, do martial arts, go rock climbing, take up biking, do interval sprints, learn to hold difficult yoga poses for extended periods of time.
Don't make your goal a specific amount of weight loss or muscle gain - just continually challenge your body in different ways. Work your body hard - the way it was meant to. And in between these activities, move all you can, every day, all day. (See this book for some tips on getting more general movement into your regular daily life.)
Only by taking our bodies through a full range of motion and exertion every day can you achieve optimal holistic health.
Of course, Rome wasn't built in a day, and your body wasn't either! If you are not in good physical condition, you will want to begin slowly increasing your physical fitness over time. Remember that your goal isn't to weigh a certain amount - it is to be healthy. True physical fitness is not an end goal - it is a journey that you take over the course of your life.
If you do it well, that course will be long, healthy, and full of energy and happiness.
To your health (physical and otherwise),
Rose.
P.S. Next week is our Blogging Break Week for spring break, so we will not be posting, but stay tuned for our return - and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter via the box to the right to stay up to date on all of our healthy holistic living content!
For some of us, it may not feel like this, but this is most likely because your body is out of balance due to lack of exercise (and/or good nutrition). When your metabolism slows, you tend to feel sluggish, low-energy, and not have much of an appetite for exercise.
However, have you ever noticed how people who are happy, healthy, and energetic all tend to get a fair amount of exercise? Have you ever met a truly happy and healthy person who didn't exercise? I don't think I have...
Movement is not just essential for your physical health - it also has boundless benefits for your mental health, energy, and emotional well-being. This is because we were meant to move!
Everything tells us this - if we just pay attention. Our moods, our physical health, the way our body feels - everything points us to the fact that when we move more, we are simply happier and healthier.
Biologically, movement helps to fire up your metabolism, aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients, releases toxins through sweating, and regulates organ and brain function. Physical activity also helps to regulate the hormones and other compounds that impact our mood and sleep patterns. In fact, some doctors now believe that exercise may be the best cure for chemical imbalances in the brain that cause depression and other related issues of mental wellness.
On the other hand, not exercising, as we have seen both in our own population and among animals in captivity, leads to depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, physical pain and stiffness, and mental and emotional imbalances - as well as physical diseases such as heart problems, cancer, and osteoporosis.
Yes, humans were meant to move - all the time - and vigorously. Not just a 40-minute jog on the treadmill, a 30-minute yoga class, or a walk around the block once a day. For true, holistic health, your body needs to be challenged, on a regular and ongoing basis. Otherwise, we will suffer the plight of animals in captivity - disease, unhappiness, and a shortened lifespan.
This might not be what you want to hear, but if you want optimal health, it's what your body needs. It is true that any exercise is better than none, and studies show that even 15 minutes of vigorous exercise per day can improve your health to some degree. But to achieve the level of physical health that your body is capable of, you will have to do more.
Set a goal to challenge your body - this means sweating, building muscle, strengthening your bones and joints - and doing it every day. Vary your activities - lift weights, do bodyweight exercises like pushups, pull ups, and dips, do martial arts, go rock climbing, take up biking, do interval sprints, learn to hold difficult yoga poses for extended periods of time.
Don't make your goal a specific amount of weight loss or muscle gain - just continually challenge your body in different ways. Work your body hard - the way it was meant to. And in between these activities, move all you can, every day, all day. (See this book for some tips on getting more general movement into your regular daily life.)
Only by taking our bodies through a full range of motion and exertion every day can you achieve optimal holistic health.
Of course, Rome wasn't built in a day, and your body wasn't either! If you are not in good physical condition, you will want to begin slowly increasing your physical fitness over time. Remember that your goal isn't to weigh a certain amount - it is to be healthy. True physical fitness is not an end goal - it is a journey that you take over the course of your life.
If you do it well, that course will be long, healthy, and full of energy and happiness.
To your health (physical and otherwise),
Rose.
P.S. Next week is our Blogging Break Week for spring break, so we will not be posting, but stay tuned for our return - and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter via the box to the right to stay up to date on all of our healthy holistic living content!
RSS Feed