An Ode to Movement

     Fear, sadness, frustration, anxiety, and anger are just some negative emotions that our body interpret as stress. Take it from someone who overloads on self-help books, I had my bad days when the universe is upside down and nothing makes sense, but nothing lifts me out of my rut like exercise and movement. Therefore, I have to write an ode to movement as my first blog entry. Yes, the day is filled with workloads, errands, personal appointments, kids to pick-up, and other duties, but there would always be pockets of time we can devote to either stretch out on a yoga mat or have a good run.

Stress and Our Body – The Self-help OD-er speaks:

       I did study biology once in high school, so bite me. But from the many literature on stress I read, it says that our central nervous system reacts to stress by releasing chemicals like cortisol that distribute blood toward our large muscles so we can defend ourselves or run fast.  But when this get turned on too often, it becomes chronic stress and takes a toll on our nervous and immune system. Cortisol is known to feed conditions of diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and even cancer. A way stop the stress hormones from over-drive is to release the hormones that help promote well being like serotonin and endorphins. 

NO TIME FOR EXERCISE? BUT DO YOU HAVE TIME TO GET SICK? 

Half an hour of exercise is all it takes from your time. That is nothing compared to days you will lose if you let yourself go & then get sick . Some chronic conditions like heart problems and diabetes will even eat years of your life , money & productivity once you get inflicted . Exercise alone lowers the risk of breast cancer by 25%

10 MINUTES of cycling or circuit training

(e.g. running/jumping in place) can boost

Your energy level and improve your mood.

It also pumps up your cardiovascular fitness

 by 4.2 percent. 

20 MINUTES of swimming or brisk

Walking boosts your brain health!

Patients who excercised for 15 mins 3 times a week reduced their dementia risk by one-third, accdg to the 2006 study in Annals of Internal Medicine

 

30 MINUTES of brisk walking 5 times a week gives you 30% lower stroke risk 

60 MINUTES of exercise mixed with strengthening exercises raises your HDLs [ good cholesterol ] and keep your bones strong as you age. It improves bone density

     You don’t need to be a clock-watcher, but this goes to show that you can combine little pockets of time to take care of your body and ward of sickness. It only takes some little time-managing tactics to slip in the minutes, that, and add the movements you’ve been doing the whole day like walking from the parking lot to your office lobby , lifting a toddler at home, and running to catch that 8 pm bus, and you’re gonna be just fine.

Next stop? Meditation. It’s restorative, it’s mind-clearing, so wait for my next entry!