Movement defines life . . .

Man was created to move. From the beginning of time, he has walked, worked the land, hunted, lifted, hauled, built, climbed, gathered and run for his life – literally. “Exercise” as we now know it was just part of everyday life back then, and a critical one at that! It kept the body lean, strong, vital, smart, responsive and functioning at its peak.

Somehow things have changed. We have become sedentary creatures. Statistics show that most of us sit an average of 13 hours a day: at the office, in our cars, in front of a TV, at dinner, at the theatre, etc. And the human body was not designed to be still for extended periods.

When you stop moving, you send a subtle message – right down to the deepest level of your DNA that you’re done here. And that starts a cascade of rather undesirable physiological changes that you are not going to like: metabolism slows, heart rate declines, heart muscle weakens, bones lose their strength, blood circulates more slowly, triglycerides and LDL build up on your artery walls, muscles atrophy, joints get stiff and creaky . . . it is even believed that the brain starts to shrink.

While “exercise” might elicit the thought of grueling hours in a sweaty gym to get your effective dose, this isn’t the only way. Unless you’re interested in bulking up and competing in the Ms. Universe muscle competition, you can get a healthy dose of exercise without stepping foot into a gym.

Many people get their workouts by gardening, raking, shoveling, hiking, hauling and lifting infants or heavy things, and carrying on the regular activities of life. Keep doing that, it’s good for you.

If you’re sedentary and spend hours in a seated position, remember Newton’s Law: a body at rest tends to stay at rest unless something acts upon it – and that means you. It might take a little extra momentum to get started, but it’s worth it! Not only is it good for your body, it’s good for your mind, mood, memory, skin and your sleep. It offsets the impact of chronic diseases and can significantly extend your healthy life span!

So, get moving and be strong!