Have you ever asked yourself: why we were designed to move? I can`t answer that and I don`t know if there is someone who can, either. But I know one thing for sure. If we could not move, we would not have been able to create the world, we live in today. For some reason, we were designed or evolved with the ability to physically move, using our body.
Humans can outrun in distance any animal in the world. Can lift heavy and odd objects. Carry them for a long period of time as well as be very precise and crafty with their hands.
We have most likely evolved that way.
For millions of years, we had to hunt to get food, run long distances and chase our prey. Or make sure we can run long enough until it is tired, or we had to chase the prays to a trap, so we have better chances. For many years, the only way and the main way of transport was walking.
The movement was always a huge part of our existence. It was required for our survival and evolution. And as you know, the body is a machine that can adapt to a certain lifestyle, based on the requirements of that lifestyle. So, for sure people that lived thousand years ago were superhumans compared to us. They had to move heavy objects, they had to run fast and long distances. Their bodies were ready for it. That made them more resilient. I am pretty sure that e person who was active all life had no back pain issues or knee issues. I am sure that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity rate, was not even close to what is today. But why? What changed, that made us less active and therefore unhealthier.
One of the reasons is chronic lack of activity.
We are the most sedentary that have ever been. Jobs require us to sit all day. We travel between 1 to 3 hours or more, usually sitting. Everything is more accessible than ever. We can order food instead of hunting it, we can order products instead of scavenging. Even entertainment is usually sitting and watching tv or playing computer games. Instead of dancing or playing physical games with other people for instance.
It seems that we are slowly losing that ability that we have acquired for all the years and our bodies are not happy about it.
How many of us suffer from any type of back pain? How many of us have bad posture? How many of us, was diagnosed with diabetes (referring to type 2, which is not a genetic factor)? How many of us have been told that we are overweight or obese? It is highly linked to a chronic lack of activity.
When I was a kid, trying to be funny in front of my mum, I would always say that progress is driven by lazy people. And I will give an example with the washing machine. “it was invented by lazy people that didn’t want to wash their clothes with hands”. Funny, right?
Thinking about that, makes me realize that people were always trying to be better. They were always trying to invent devices or ways to ease their work and life. And when we achieved it. We realized that we need to move more. We realized that kids on average have 2 or 3 hours of physical education per week and that is not enough. We are inventing apps such as “Pokemon Go”, in order to make the kids, at least to move, while being glued to their phones. (at least I am hoping that it helped a bit)
The point that I am trying to make is that we are less active than we have ever been, and we suffer from it. We are able to move and perform at our best. Pain-free. Without disease. But we don’t want to. It seems that we can’t realize that we are neglecting the biggest factors of a healthy life. Movement. It is the cure to a lot of dysfunctions and modern diseases. By moving we are training and bettering our musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, nervous system. We are giving the body what it needs to be healthy. And on top of that, it helps with our mental state too. Healthy and happy. What more could you want?
And by moving I do not mean training like an athlete or lifting heavy objects. I don’t even mean to do a specific sport. I just mean to be active. To dance, to walk, to play. Buy one of those activity tracking devices, set a goal of steps, and try to achieve it every day. You will be amazed at how little you walk. Or park the car as far from the entrance as you can and walk a bit more today. Get a dog and walk it. Play with it. Or pick a sport. Try different stuff. You might enjoy climbing, or swimming, yoga, or Pilates. Ping pong for instance. Any sort of activity is better than none. Try to fall in love with it, or at least with the benefits that come with it.
Being active might not be what our brain desires right now, but both the brain and the body will thank you after.
Check out Episode 5 of Fit Life Radio for more insights into How and Why to be more active.
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