In a
recent conversation with my aunt, the vice president at a health
clinic, she expressed her concern regarding her lack of exercise and
inactivity. She often puts in 70 hours of work per week, most of
which is done on a computer or sitting in meetings. I was reminded of
a Mayo Clinic ad that encouraged listeners to move for at least
15 minutes a day. Not lacking for activity, my first thought was, “I
wish I could rest for at least 15 minutes a day!”
Many
jobs today require hours of work with minimal exercise. Frequent
breaks, innovative seating, standing work stations, etc, can improve
some issues. Mental stress adds another element and these two
dimensions are often enough to throw us into our recliners at the end
of the day for some quality veg time. It is no wonder that there is a
serious rise in health issues partially stemming from inactive
lifestyles.
With
early Summer upon us we are likely to spend time being more active.
However, as the season progresses mowing the lawn becomes a chore,
weeding the garden becomes an overwhelming task, going for that hike
sounds like punishment and we almost wish we lived in the deep South
so that the norm would be killing time in a lawn chair, sipping on
sweet tea. We shouldn't succumb to the tyrannical forces of laziness
this year. While researchers are creating better work environments we
should do our part and be active once we are home. Get up and move;
stay mobile. Whether you prefer to be out-of-doors or in your abode
it is wise to continue movement and activity. According to
NDHealthFacts “External movement of the body is dependent on joints
and muscles and requires activities that work them continuously. …
To a large degree, the outward flexibility that a person possesses is
a mirror of their inner flexibility both physiologically and
psychologically. To ensure that the body can move freely and easily
requires movement in every plane and in various intensities as part
of everyday life.”
While
hitting the gym is beneficial it's better to find some pleasure in
the great outdoors. Professor Richard M. Ryan said,"Nature is
something within which we flourish, so having it be more a part of
our lives is critical, especially when we live and work in built
environments." That lush, green and natural environment, with a
little vitamin D to boot, can do a world of good for a person. A
study conducted by The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
discovered that, “...compared with exercising indoors, exercising
in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of
revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together
with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression.
Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with
outdoor activity and stated that they were more likely to repeat the
activity at a later date.”
We
live in an age, and particularity in a country, were we are expected
to be intelligent and yet also allowed to be lazy. And by lazy, I
mean we spend more time being idle than any of the previous
generations. It's sort of an oxymoron to be an intelligent, lazy
person, isn't it? In chapter 4 of his book, Teaching with the Brain
in Mind - 2nd Edition, Eric Jensen wrote, “Amazingly,
the part of the brain that processes movement is the same part of the
brain that processes learning. … We learn to predict (think about)
our movements before we execute them (move) so that we control them
better …. This ability suggests that all motor activity is preceded
by quick thought processes that set goals, analyze variables, predict
outcomes, and execute movements.”
There
is no need for “exercise” to be a word that sounds demanding and
exhausting. It can be a positive reminder of the physical and mental
happiness that moving about can bring. So find something that you can
do to keep your body and your mind moving. Bike, jog, participate in
a race or marathon. Join a local sports team, be it casual or legit.
Go to the gym, swim, start a workout routine. Maybe you're not a
super sporty or athletic person? Learn to do the swing, waltz or
other forms of dance. Try zumba or yoga. Garden, for food or for fun.
Perhaps a little “hippie” could help; Earthing/Grounding, or what
average folk call walking barefoot outside, has been shown to have
some health benefits. Take a Saturday morning stroll through the
farmer's market in Eau Claire's lovely Phoenix Park. Discover a few
of the incredible local views while hiking with some friends.
Exercise doesn't have to mean obligation; it can mean adventure, too.
The
gist of it all? Keep it moving. Being more active more often is not a
matter to go home and sleep on. Eat well, sleep well and be
sprightly.
The
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. "Benefits of
outdoor exercise confirmed." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5
February 2011.
.
Written for and published in The US and Eau Claire Journal, July Edition
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