Movement, It’s good for the body and mind

My girlfriend and I hiked several miles in 45 degrees weather with a steady rain. Our hike the next day was dry but slightly colder and very windy. The following weekend we had a chilly hike on Saturday prior to an evening snow storm. While the weather was certainly better, the solitude of being the only ones hiking in the rain the previous weekend was simply exhilarating. No stress; just a nice peaceful walk in the woods to help clear the mind and heal the body.

Most of our hikes these days are around 3.5 miles at a very comfortable pace. For us, it’s not about the distance but rather the shear enjoyment of being out in nature. We push ourselves up the hills; rest when we need to or just stop to enjoy the view. We both tend to take several photos during our journey. For me, constantly scanning the scenery allows me to completely remove myself from my inner stresses. For my friend, I honestly think she is looking for that one photo that will outshine my shots for the day!

In all seriousness, we hike and we stop when one feels the need to pause and enjoy a scene, compose a photo, or simply rest to catch a breath. And because our conversation is usually minimal my mind tends to wonder. I forget about the stress and worries of the day. I use this time to quietly focus on my gratitude list, to think through issues and items that require acceptance, or to make amends to myself or in preparation to others.

An acquaintance of mine is a highly successful personal fitness coach. During his career he as helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase endurance and build muscle mass. But these days his focus is on movement. His daily posts consist more of images of him demonstrating basic stretching and less photos of legs squats and power lifts. You see, he has come to understand basic physical movement is more beneficial to overall health than fad diets and weightlifting. His new philosophy is simple, “Your emotional health is deeply rooted in your body’s natural movement.” He is transitioning from physical fitness to holistic health.

Other professionals agree. In his book the Biology of Belief, Dr Bruce Lipton quotes Psychologist Jeffery Rediger saying, “Health and illness are much more rooted in our minds and how we experience ourselves in the world than our models even begin to understand.” In a study called “The Young one”, a group of aging celebrities were used as test subjects transported to an environment to replicate their younger days. For a week they lived in a retrofitted house to represent 1975. They were exposed daily to thirty-five-year-old news and sports stories. At the conclusion of the experiment the test subjects showed marked improvements. Their mental status had changed, they felt rejuvenated, healthier and even moved better.  

According to epigeneticst Cole, “We are the architects of our own experience.” Lipton adds, “Your belief carries more power than your reality.”

To summarize, I suggest you move. Walk, skip, and stretch. Reach for the stars, twist to the side, and touch your toes. Before you know it you’ll be hiking in the hoods or doing cartwheels with the kids in the front yard.

#BuildABetterYou