Movement is a privilege: don’t waste it, don’t lose it

It’s a bad state of affairs that people view exercise as a chore.

I get it, to a point, and the history of evolution would tend to agree. The expenditure of energy for anything other than food, fighting or play would be viewed as a reckless waste of the sparse fuel that was available. But times were very different as we developed as a species. We moved out of necessity more than choice. Times of inactivity needed to be used to rest, recover, and conserve.

The truth: you are deeply programmed not to exercise.

That said, it was also during these times that your body was designed and built to move. Movement was a necessity for survival. Somewhere through the arduous years of evolution, both physically and societally, we have become a little blasé about our ability to move freely and on demand. We now consistently undervalue the ease with which we bend, stand, carry and run, and overlook the importance of our ability to carry shopping, move quickly when needed, or be strong enough to catch ourselves when we fall. (Or at least the ease with which we did all of this before we aged.)

Movement is something we were born to do, it’s as natural as blinking, breathing, or sleeping… until it isn’t.

And when it’s not… you notice.

You notice the absence of freedom far more than you ever noticed its presence. All of a sudden you begin to understand the privileges that came with physical freedom. The ability to put your socks on while you are standing up, to bend easily over the sink in the morning, and to walk down the stairs without being acutely aware of your ageing knees.

Eventually you stop being the one relied upon and begin to rely on others, to load the suitcase overhead, to carry your children, to chase the taxi, or to wait for you while you catch your breath.

Having them carry your burden was not something you had planned.

Much like the inability to put your socks on while standing or put your kids on your shoulders. The desire to take the stairs over the escalators probably wasn’t planned either. The exact day all of this happened likely went unnoticed, but now they are just a few of the tasks you can no longer do without at least a brief contemplation of the consequences of doing so. All of which is just a slow nod in the downward spiral that is ageing. You just didn’t think it would happen this early.

To be fair… it wasn’t meant to.

It’s just that you decided physical activity was a chore. That you did not have time to exercise. You too became a little blasé about your ability to move freely and on demand.

Luckily, it’s reversible. If you are willing.

Willing to appreciate that your ability to move needs to be nurtured, and willing to put some work in to gain back the privilege. If you are still not convinced, try speaking to some of those who have had their ability to move taken away: they would swap with you in a heartbeat.

If your choice is to stay capable, you are going to have to commit now. You are going to have to exercise in some way. Whether that takes the form of cardiovascular, mobility, or strength training, or a combination of all three, it is no longer a choice. It’s not something you ‘should’ do, it’s something you absolutely must do, it’s non-negotiable. It’s up there with cleaning your teeth, taking a shower, sleeping 8 hours, and using your indicators when you change lane… Exercise has to become something you do as a matter of course.

Something that is scheduled into your week as an unmissable appointment, not merely fit in when you can. Your exercise time has to become a protected space in your diary. Whether that sits before or after work, on your lunch break, or over the weekend, it doesn’t matter, but it has to sit, and it has to sit where you put it, every week.

• A 30-minute walk, twice a week, after work.
• A 45-minute strength session with a trainer, twice a week, before work.
• A 40-minute cardiovascular session, one morning over the weekend.

All combined, that is a little over 3 hours per week to keep your body moving the way you want it to, to continue doing the things you love for longer.

A small price to pay for a lifetime of physical freedom.

Movement is a privilege you cannot afford to lose. Don’t waste it.

If you are ready and willing to make some changes share your details and we will handle the rest. Click here.