Last week, I explored “V” for victuals and making healthy eating choices. Victual is about bringing more vegetables, herbs, fruits, nuts, and seeds into one’s diet. This is the first step, so when you are ready to make a change, start building the body up and giving it tons of nutrition.
This week is about “E” for exercise. I think most of us can agree that exercise is central to one’s health and mental health. It is essential, but somewhere down the line, we get distracted with life and exercise, which becomes less and less critical. As we age, we move our bodies less and less for some. We develop pains, aches, discomforts, and many negative maladaptive thinking patterns. So, when I selected “E,” I knew it would be in the form of exercise.
I am glad to be learning and adjusting with you all on this journey as well. Several years ago, I would have talked more about yoga and the many benefits it gives us all. There are many benefits to yoga; this is absolutely true. However, ancient yoga practices explore yoga more than just movement of the body; it is the connection to the spirit, to God. So when I take a traditional yoga class, I have fun and use part of it as moving my body, a form of physical discipline. The other parts are controlling the breath, a part of mediation, and stillness, believe it or not, is a part of endurance. However, the “E” for exercise refers to movement within the body.
I am taking a few classes in organic nutrition, and one of many things I like is this energetic principle, “Where this is space, there is movement. Where there is movement, there is energy. Where there is energy, disease cannot exist.” (1) On a cellular level water within the body sends information to our cells. Water supports cellular communication. Within the water, these microscopic molecules have encoded information. This information is constantly changing and doing its best to keep what it needs for repair, replenishing, and rejuvenating. If our mind-body-spirit integration is moving, then the individual feels energized. If you have energy, disease can’t multiply within the body. That explains why most people on the path towards illness report fatigue, exhaustion, and lethargy. Listen to your body, and if fatigue is creeping in, then get to moving the body. Start working to repair your cells and get your body towards a healing state and not a disease state.
In therapy work with patients, I encourage the body’s movement every day and over the course of a day. Unless you have physical limitations, something that is accessible to everyone is walking. There are many opportunities during the day we make choices about our health. I suggest we choose to move more, and walking is a good option.
Benefits of walking
1. You can walk anywhere; inside, outside, in all types of weather.
2. You can walk casually, go a little faster, or build up to a run.
3. You can walk and talk on the phone, listen to a podcast, or book, and hold business meetings.
4. You can walk alone, with a friend or family member, even a dog.
5. You can walk in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
6. You can walk before and after a meal to support healthy digestion.
7. You can walk just about any time.
So what seems to be the barrier for people. Fatigue has kicked in, and remember, this is the first sign of a diseased state building up in the body. So, it’s a challenge; when your body is getting sick, you have to work harder and more intelligently with the repair process. Then you start to build up your energy, you fight the fatigue, and healing begins.
Citation
Henele, D. (2013). Energetic Health: Interesting Insights Into Advanced Natural Medicine (2nd ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
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