As we complete a weekend of exercise extremes, many people take a look at their own level of exercise. You don’t have to be an Ironman or Hoopfest participant to be physically fit. Nor do you have to work out at a gym. But exercise is undoubtedly vital to health. Since everything is so controversial today, I hate to say it is universally agreed upon, but I’m sure there are some out there that say exercise isn’t necessary. Really?
For thousands of years, exercise was a given. You walked most places, worked in the fields, performed feats of labor that most people would cringe at now, and just in general, were physically fit because you were physical. In an ever-increasing world of conveniences, we are becoming more and more lazy. We don’t have to get up to change channels on the TV, lift a heavy garage door open, or bring in firewood to keep our homes warm (well, some still do that). Our life of convenience means that we have to do an inconvenient thing – go to the gym. While that works great for some, for others, it doesn’t.
So many people are fraught with challenges that make working out or even walking a challenge. Arthritis, fibromyalgia, fatigue, joint replacements, back pain and others too numerous to mention are prohibiting people from doing the very thing that would probably help their condition.
Exercise improves circulation – this would benefit circulation to the brain, reducing mental sluggishness, and increasing memory, work performance and preventing brain “aging” diseases. It would benefit circulation disorders, cardiovascular health and liver health. Exercise improves sleep, motivation, emotional health and energy. Exercise increases strength, flexibility and balance. It improves the immune system, bone health and longevity.
Here comes the kicker: you’re too tired to exercise to reap the benefits of energy; you’re in too much physical pain to reap the benefits of increased muscular strength, joint and bone health; you’re too unmotivated either emotionally or energy-wise to reap the benefits of increased motivation; and your heart is in too bad of condition to reap the benefits of cardiovascular improvement. What are you to do?
See a practitioner that helps you to get out of pain, improve your heart and organ health, help your get-up-and-go start getting-up-and-going, and the rest will follow. Acupuncturists and Naturopaths do just that. A good practitioner will look at the body comprehensively – from the top of the head to the tip of your toes. As health detectives, we put all the symptoms together – like a giant picture puzzle – to see what is underlying your fatigue, pain, organ dysfunction, immune or endocrine dysfunction. Then we treat YOU.
When correcting the underlying issue that is causing a decline in health or tissue breakdown, and treating the patient’s entire body, not just an isolated symptom, the patient will find vital health in all areas, including the ability to exercise without pain or physical compromise. What a wonderful gift to yourself!
©2017 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
