What is Exercise?

Knowing what exercise is, or what you believe exercise to be, will assist you to uncover exercise- focused time and space periods throughout your day.

People often do not exercise because they have a limited concept of what exercise is and they feel they don't have enough time, space,  knowledge or requisite strength/endurance/health,etc. to effectively exercise.  A belief that exercise is only a few specific acts such as jogging, bench-press, mountain-climbing,etc. may limit an individual from engaging in exercise.  Limiting exercise to a specific locale (gym,  yoga studio,  nature trails) decreases available time and space in which to exercise.

 Broadening your concept of exercise (and exercise locales/environments)  will increase your available time/space in which to exercise.  If you believe that you are engaging in  meaningful exercise, at any given time/space,  then you will probably perform that exercise.
Example: if you believe that  performing 2 sets of medium speed push-ups while waiting for your coffee water to boil ( because you use a french-press) is an effective strengthening exercise (which it most assuredly is for the shoulder girdle) then you will probably perform that exercise in that time/space period.   Or, if you believe that you can benefit  your Ashtanga Yoga practice of attending 1 yoga class per week  by engaging in a shorter practice at home (maybe expressing the primary series), then you will be motivated to exercise outside of your accustomed locale.   Taking a 20 minute walk at a lunch break is another example.

Creating your own concept/idea/definition of exercise can be liberating.  If you decide that exercise is movement, this allows you to exercise in any time/space that allows movement.  If you expand this concept further, you can even exercise while sitting still by deep breathing, where your diaphragm (which is a muscle) is moving which can have many positive physical and psycho-spiritual  effects.

You could decide that exercise is any mind/body activity of which you are aware. Awareness can change an absent-minded walk to the mailbox into a rich exploration of human movement in a four-dimensional gravitational field (don't forget to watch for cars).

Exercise may mean play to an individual. An activity of play whether playing a competitive game or climbing a tree with your children ( at least trying to!) can give the same benefits no matter what you label it.

You may prefer to explore exercise concepts through  more definitive definitions. Check online or hard copy dictionaries if you choose this route.


So, what does  exercise mean to you? 

***Always seek your doctor’s advice before beginning any exercise program