Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought,
Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught.
The wise, the cure, on exercise depends;
God never made his work, for man to mend.

Dryden

The human body was made for movement. A person standing at rest on the equator is whizzing along at 1,000 miles per hour as earth rotates on its axis. The earth is speeding around the sun at 60,000 miles per hour. Nothing in our universe is standing still. God made man to move! The body is a means of transportation while you are on planet earth. Your mind directs your body to move, the system works like a finely tuned machine when oiled well. The simple truth is your body requires a given amount of energy (from food) to function and any amount over that must be stored somewhere. We eat much more than we burn. Therefore exercise is mandatory or we will expand like a balloon. Have you ever seen a wild animal not fed by human beings that was overweight? When was the last time you saw a pack of lions hanging out at the watering hole sun bathing while drinking 32 ounce colas, eating hamburgers and French fries. Animals are always on the move! Nature utilizes what it needs with no waste and no want. There are a number of good physiological reasons for exercise.

To increase;
• energy
• oxygen in the blood
• bone density
• human growth hormone production
• endorphins which stimulate the immune system.

To decrease;
• blood pressure
• body fat
• constipation.

Also, remember that the body fuels the mind.



Imagine if the body responds that quickly how much healthier your body would be with 20 minutes of exercise everyday.

It’s not important what you haven’t been doing (yesterday is gone). What’s important is that right now (today) you start exercising. Stand up right now and walk around the room or do some deep knee bends or jumping jacks. That is more than you where doing and at this very moment every system in your body has altered their function from where it was one minute ago. Imagine if the body responds that quickly how much healthy your body would be with 20 minutes of exercise everyday. It has been shown that one year’s worth of exercise can make you physiologically years younger. Exercise makes you feel better because it increases the endorphins in your body thereby giving you a natural high. Start where you’re at and build on it everyday. Make it fun! We recommend doing all three of the following types of exercise during a week’s time.

Aerobic - continuous non-stop motion. This includes any activity that raises your heartbeat and that you continue for 20 to 30 minutes (i.e. walking, jogging, running, cycling, rollerblading, ice skating, jump roping, cross-country skiing, etc.). 2-3 times a week.

Weight Training - building the muscular system so that it supports the skeletal structure of your body. This includes push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups. If you have never worked on strengthening your muscles using weights then consult with a personal trainer at a local gym before starting. There are also many books and videos available on this subject. 2-3 times a week.

Stretching - to increase range of motion and prevent injuries. This is done only after your muscles are warmed up, when your body temperature has risen to the point of perspiration. Stretching is done slow and sustained. If it hurts or if it feels bouncy or jerky you are doing it wrong. There are many books on the market to direct you in specifics. 4-6 times a week.