Is physical exercise necessary?

Is physical exercise necessary?

Can we be healthy without effort?

Firstly, an important notice regarding this essay:- Those unfortunate enough to be suffering from cancer or any degenerative affliction; may be warned against the spreading of the diseased cells around the body, there are several opinions and so many differing advisory ideas about this. It is very important that you always consult a trusted medical expert who understands your individual and specific condition and needs, before changing any aspect of your life.

We humans, along with nearly all sentient creatures, have taken thousands of years to evolve to the stage we are at now. All species are still evolving, evolution has not ended, it just goes slow by comparison to a human life span. So, we who are alive now, have to get by with the body we have now; in ten thousand years’ time a human may have a body that has changed, evolved further, but we are stuck with what we have. Our bodies have been formed by physical forces, we have evolved to cope with a physical world and the need to survive in it. Only recently, in evolutionary terms, humans have invented the means to avoid physical work. So our bodies have become what they are, due to physical need.

So much sales effort is now aimed at convincing us that if we take this medication, if we use this supplement, if we follow this or that diet, we will be fit and healthy. Are these actually going to help us achieve our aims without physical effort? Gadgets that vibrate specific areas of the body so you can “exercise” while resting or watching Tv are very popular. The question that needs consideration is simple; can we actually achieve good health and fitness without muscular effort of any sort? Muscular effort does not necessarily mean marathon running. The elderly, those unfortunate enough to suffer illness or disability can generally still use some muscles and make some effort to get blood circulating. The circulation of blood is vital to every aspect of our well-being. Exercising an arm causes blood to flow all-round the body, not just in the arm. The blood carries nutrients to where they are needed, the blood also carries molecular and cellular debris back to the body’s disposal units.

The human body is an incredible organisation, but like nearly all organisations, it can have problems. If one aspect, if you like one department in the organisation, is not working efficiently then this affects the whole organisation. As with commercial organisations the objectives that the organisation is designed to reach, will dictate how the whole is set up, what sort of hierarchy is used to control the enterprise. As mentioned earlier we humans have evolved with physical survival as the main objective. The fact that we (those in “developed” nations,) no longer have to apply constant physical effort to that objective, has not yet resulted in evolutionary change and so our bodies still expect physical effort to be constantly applied.

There are many studies of communities where the average life expectancy is longer than the world average. Most studies of these communities focus on diet and stress-free lifestyle, but most are communities where every day physical work of some sort is normal into old age, sure they do not suffer from malnutrition certainly they have a lot less mental and emotional stress than “developed” societies, but they still have a lifestyle where constant slow but steady work, effort, is normal. They keep blood circulating. It should also be noted that what is observed in most of these long-life communities is that they avoid excess in just about everything, they have moderation in food, drink, mental and emotional input and in personal expectations.

Our bodies deteriorate without physical exercise, but we do not need the work out regimes of professional athletes to keep going. Yoga is a simple way to keep energy, blood and nutrition flowing. Dynamic yoga is especially good at this. (Dynamic yoga is where the positions flow into each other, there is constant movement and no holding a pose for several minutes at a time.)Yoga allows movement without stressful loads on the muscles. Yoga also stretches and opens up the meridians used in Shiatsu and acupuncture, but you do not need to believe, or even know about these, to gain benefit. Each of us is an individual, we all have different needs, aspirations, and requirements but all bodies need blood to flow around them. Activity ensures that this happens. Total reliance on supplements, diet, gadgets, and medication is best avoided if possible. To many people these products, when added to activity, may help, but activity of some sort is required. I am over 80 years old and have practiced yoga, to some degree or other, for many years. I now find a short- under 10 minutes- daily routine, one that mixes yoga stretches with more muscular activity, such as press ups, helps me overcome the aches and pains of old age. The earlier you start physical activity the better, but you can start at any age. To some extent it does not matter what type of activity, each to their own. What will bring improvement is consistency, perseverance, keeping to a routine of everyday action. Do not be put off if your improvement is slow to be visible. Keep going. Days, weeks, months even years; it is your body and so your responsibility. Keep working at it.