Physical Fitness
The "Mind" And The Body Are NOT Distinct And Separate
While you are alive, you have a body which responds to the environment in manners consistent with genetic programming and learned behaviors. All of the body's organs and systems co-evolved and attempt to work in harmonious fashion to help you along. Humans have a number of adaptations which make us stand-out amongst all animals: our prehensile ability and finger dexterity, our bipedalism, plus our brains. Although many creatures are stronger, faster, larger-brained, none have our combination of body-parts. And the brain is just a body-part. Well, maybe not "just"...but the "thinking" that human brains do is a physical process and depends on your other organs working well.
Keeping your mind healthy should be seen as a part of keeping your body healthy. Some people may see athletes as ignorant jocks, all brawn and no brains. But think about what it means to be an athlete: quick, accurate reflexes, quick decision abilities, adeptness at tracking the movement of others - both oppositional and team-players - ability to focus under stressful circumstances, etc. These are all very intelligent attributes. The behaviors of the body ARE what the brain does. A healthy body supports a healthy mind. What we eat, what we think, and how we move all affect our mentality.
Keeping your mind healthy should be seen as a part of keeping your body healthy. Some people may see athletes as ignorant jocks, all brawn and no brains. But think about what it means to be an athlete: quick, accurate reflexes, quick decision abilities, adeptness at tracking the movement of others - both oppositional and team-players - ability to focus under stressful circumstances, etc. These are all very intelligent attributes. The behaviors of the body ARE what the brain does. A healthy body supports a healthy mind. What we eat, what we think, and how we move all affect our mentality.
"But I Don't Want To Work-Out..."
Listen, you don't need a gym membership. You don't need to spend lots of money. You don't even have to invest more than a few minutes a week. Seriously! Physical fitness regimes have come a long way since Arnold first grabbed our attention with his giant arms. A popular trend is toward "functional fitness," practicing movements which integrate all of your muscles and allow you to safely go through natural ranges of motion. "Natural" is relative - most people don't actually do these movements in normal life (unless they ARE actually athletes) - but these movements are still well-suited to how are bodies are designed. Further, a functional exercise should simultaneously enhance your flexibility, strength/power, balance, and "cardio."
Get yourself some kettle-bells, battle-ropes, and friends, and change how you feel with just a few minutes of intense/safe movement, a few days per week.
If you require some motivation, I'm a fan of Elliott Hulse - looking at his traps while he rants and philosophizes about training will get most guys thinking that they better start working out more. He has a YouTube channel as his name, and also as StrengthCamp. Elliott's goal as a coach is to help you "become a stronger version of yourself."
Get yourself some kettle-bells, battle-ropes, and friends, and change how you feel with just a few minutes of intense/safe movement, a few days per week.
If you require some motivation, I'm a fan of Elliott Hulse - looking at his traps while he rants and philosophizes about training will get most guys thinking that they better start working out more. He has a YouTube channel as his name, and also as StrengthCamp. Elliott's goal as a coach is to help you "become a stronger version of yourself."
Walking as the Ultimate Exercise
I'm a big fan of walking. Is anything more under-rated than a nice stroll outside? Jogging and running can be fun challenges, but done excessively can wear away your joints and cause more damage than harm. The same is true for swimming, rock-climbing, martial arts, basketball, baseball, and every sport and exercise. Except maybe walking. Walking not only keeps your metabolism up, it also creates a great "space" for thinking, for centering, for just enjoying being. When you are angry, a walk will fix that. You can walk almost anywhere, any time (emphasis on the almost). Walking is a good way to help digest food after a meal. Walking is gentle and doesn't involve much shock. You don't have to learn to walk once you have already done so (but you may need to work on your posture). You won't tear a ligament or tendon or muscle while walking (I suppose you could if you were really doing it wrong). Walking is a great way to catch a sunset. Walking is one of those things that we are especially meant to do. Don't fight it, spend some more time walking.
Walking up and down hills adds some challenge and makes walking interesting. If you don't have hills, maybe you can find stairs. I occasionally run every now and then, up to a half marathon or so (13.1 miles) just to show myself that I can, but more often I jog and do sprints on tall outdoor stairs. This is very vigorous, but simply walking up these stairs would be a powerful addition to anyone's fitness regimen. Regardless, whether on inclines or flat ground, walking will make you feel good and it's good for you. |