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Exercise for Body Mind and Spirit

By Bonnie Murphy

My life has been devoted to exercise. In all my research, I have found that it’s very important, not only to exercise your body, but your mind as well. After all, we are total beings, and the body, mind, and spirit are all housed in one mass.

Like most people, perhaps you associate fitness and exercise with the physical act of moving your body. Perhaps negative thoughts or lethargy sometimes cause you to resist moving or doing physical things that are good for you. If so, you might care to re-train your thoughts so that when your mind says “I can’t,” your body says, “Watch this!” With a little persistence and experience, your body may more easily win out in these situations and you will try the very thing that your mind told you that you were incapable of doing.

For example, say you are beginning a weight training program and your trainer suggests that you lift a five pound weight up in the air above your shoulder. Perhaps your first instinct is to say, “I can’t do that!” This reaction occurs mainly because you have never tried that before and you’ve read articles that warn that you might hurt yourself if you don’t execute the movement properly. A greater disservice would be made, however, if you didn’t try. If five pounds seems too heavy, try one, two, or three. At least you would have tried and not quit.

For years we were told that once you lost your muscle tone, you could never regain it. Tufts University has done numerous studies on this subject and the results are astounding. It has been shown that even people in their 80s and 90s have been able to recoup their strength—in some cases, close to that which they had in their earlier years.

The reason muscle mass is lost is because of disuse, nothing more. Thus, it stands to reason that if you use your body as it was designed; keep it moving and actually challenge the muscles by doing weight training--you will get stronger, enabling you to be independent for many, many, years.

I fully believe since your body was created for movement, if you incorporate some kind of exercise into your daily routine, you will stay strong and sharp for years to come.

Some fun ways to stimulate your mind are doing crossword puzzles: putting together jigsaw puzzles: playing card games: challenging someone to a game of chess: work Sudaku puzzles: or try anything that activates your brain cells.

In exercise classes I’ve observed instructors encouraging the participants to do things like using their right leg and left arm, then changing to using the same arm with the same leg, just to add variety and make the class think. Coordination exercises stretch the brain and keep it quick and aware.

Exercise is so beneficial to your body, mind and spirit. Regular, consistent, exercise will improve the quality of any one’s life. In myriads of studies, researchers have proven that people who exercise their minds and bodies are much younger acting and they stay vital longer. A recent study has shown that people who are physically active are less likely to contract the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease.

It has been said countless times that exercise is the closest thing to the “Fountain of Youth” we have. So, go for the zest – take a walk, today! Add life to your years through regular exercise. And make movement a part of your daily life!

About the Author:

Bonnie Murphy is certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). She has been in Anchorage since 1968 and has been in the fitness business 27 years. In May of 2006 she was chosen as Fitness Ambassador to Alaska by the 50-Plus Lifelong Fitness organization.

Bonnie was recently interviewed by Rebecca Sheir of the AK show of APRN. Bonnie writes regularly for Alaska Wellness magazine, Alaska Women Speak, has written two e-books about exercise and aging, publishes a monthly e-newsletter, and has various fitness articles posted on the Web.


Website: www.bfitandwell.com
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