Exercise Therapy for Health

If there is one supreme natural health therapy for chronic disorders, it is exercise. And if there is one natural therapy that is more natural than any others, that is also exercise.

Human beings were literally designed to be highly active. Our leg muscles in particular seem shaped by a need to walk or run for great distances. It has been said that due to our very large buttock muscles, (which are much larger than those of other primates), there is no other animal that can keep up with man over the long haul. Anthropologists say that Man used to track and walk over long distances to hunt meat before the days of weapons.

Exercise is healthy therapy, and returning to more like we used to be is beneficial to us. Exercise can be used to improve, slow down and even reverse a number of serious illnesses.

How is exercise good for us?

Exercise can help us in many ways:

• Stretching exercises can improve and reverse back pain and other aches and pain in the body, including menstrual cramps. Progressive exercises like moving limbs through the whole range of motion will prevent joints afflicted with arthritis from seizing up. See below for some exercises you can do anytime during the day.

• Brisk walking is good for the circulatory system and any circulatory problems in the legs, and improves the entire health of the system. Most importantly exercise helps to make bones stronger by promoting the addition of minerals – one reason why people who walk a lot and are energetic have a far less chance of developing osteoporosis in later life.

• Stationary cycling is excellent for people with chest conditions as it opens up the lungs and helps to get rid of excess mucus.

• Vigorous exercise helps you lose or maintain your weight by burning off fat and making your appetite become more normal.

All these different modes of exercise can benefit you in many ways:

It helps you to relax and get a better nights’ sleep. Muscles grow larger and stronger by exercising, lung function improves, and the heart rate becomes lower.

Exercise can also be an enjoyable pastime – it can be taken in the form of dancing or playing sport or gardening and can also be gentle for those who are unable to take more active exercise – as in the gentle stretching of yoga and the Chinese art of Tai-chi, which actually increases the amount of T cells available to the immune system.

Exercise also burns up cholesterol and other fats. It improves circulation to the point that areas which are stressed with regular exercise will actually develop additional tiny blood vessels to deliver oxygen and remove wastes.

Stretching Exercises

Have you ever watched a cat when it stretches? You'd think it didn't have a bone in its body. With its front legs down to the ground, then its back curved up in the air in an "S" shape, its eyes are closed and it has this ecstatic look on its face, as if it's savouring the feeling. You can get almost jealous!

That type of flexibility is really something to be envious of. But it's also something we can all work on if we incorporate some stretching into our daily routines. Our sedentary lifestyles are a bigger factor in decreasing flexibility than aging.

And stretching can do a lot more besides helping with flexibility. Stretching improves the range of motion of your joints, keeping you in better balance and less prone to injury from falls. It also improves your circulation by increasing the blood flow to muscles. Stretching keeps your muscles from getting tight, so you can maintain proper posture, and relaxes the tense muscles that come with stress.

So I thought I'd share a few simple stretches I've found that can be easily incorporated into your day, because you can do them anywhere.

Finger Stretch – Spread your fingers wide until you feel a slight stretch. Hold this for 10 seconds. Then, bend the end and middle knuckles of your fingers. Hold for 10 seconds. Relax and repeat.

Chest Stretch – Lace your fingers together behind your head, then move your elbows back as far as you can. Squeeze your shoulder blades together until you feel a slight stretch. Hold for 20 seconds, then relax and repeat.

Arm and Shoulder Stretch – Lace your fingers together and turn your palms so they face outwards away from you. Straighten your arms out in front of you. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, then relax and repeat.

Neck Stretch – Face forward and look straight ahead. Then tilt your head toward one side, aiming your ear toward your shoulder. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds, then life your head back upright. Repeat three to five times on each side.

So - have a good stretch and savour the feeling!

Why don’t we exercise enough?

When you look at this range of benefits, you can get some idea about how basic to health exercise is. Even though people are more health conscious these days, the average person probably exercises far less than any of our ancestors did all through the history of the human race.

First we got desk jobs, then we drove to them in cars, then the cars got power steering and power brakes. Then the buildings we worked in got elevators and intercoms. For recreation we watch sports events on TV or go to a concert or a movie. We got rid of hand-mowers and bought self propelled lawn mowers, we got computers, and so on.

The affect of all this inactivity on us has been profound. Some doctors have given this inactivity a name - hypokinesis, meaning an abnormally low amount of movement. It is a condition which promotes ill health and a host of other mobility problems, and is a condition most of us have.

When we escape from this inactivity to getting more exercise, we are causing surprisingly deep changes in our health and physiology. The act of walking, for instance promotes the addition of minerals into our bones. Regular long walks should be a part of a healthy exercise program of anyone wanting to avoid osteoporosis.

For low back pain, the very best therapy is gradually progressive exercises that stretch the hamstring muscles of the thighs. These same exercises will also stretch the calf and will eliminate many cases of cramps and even knee problems.

The secret to get the most out of exercise as a therapy is to develop an interest not so much in exercise itself, but in some hobby which encourages vigorous movements of all kinds. Some of the best are swimming, dancing, yoga, Tai-Chi, karate, tennis, gardening and hiking.

Further reading:

Innovative Weight Training EBook(R)s, Covering Rapid Fat Loss, Muscle Building, Unique New Exercises And Powerful Training Programs for health

The World of Treadmills for all your Treadmill and Stair-stepper needs.

A fit and enthusiastic couple show you how to do your fitness training at home

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