Made to Move

We all enjoy movement and we know it.  Movement is an essential part of being human. Our bodies are built to move physiologically. If we do not partake in regular physical activity, than we are denying our body the very function that it was designed to do. Psychologically this has an effect on our mental health.

Despite the copious amount of scientific research in this area, I think that at the most basic level it is because leading an inactive lifestyle is not expressing your true function. You live in a body designed for movement. Your body with all its bones, joints, and muscles is a movement machine. You were designed to move. When you lead an inactive lifestyle, you are not being you.

The human condition is to move whether you like it or not. Think about it, if you use anything for a function that it was not designed to do; it doesn’t usually have a happy ending. If you use a computer to make toast, you won’t be happy with the outcome.  You can try over and over again to be a “sedentary being” - to live an inactive lifestyle. Living contrary to your body’s design could be leading you to an unhappy outcome, with your physical and mental health at risk.

You know you need movement from experience but you may not remember very well. So let’s take a second to refresh your inner knowledge. Get back in touch with what you already know to be true. 

Picture the scene in your mind, someone just handed you a baby to hold. The baby is sweet, cute, and smiling. Then two seconds later, the baby starts to show signs of being agitated. You start patting the baby, swaying with the baby. Why? You know intuitively humans enjoy and need movement. 

Humans are born on a mission to get mobile as fast as possible.  I have four children myself and have lots of friends who are parents. Never have I seen a baby who doesn’t put tremendous effort into its developmental milestones. Babies develop head control, rollover, push their hands up, creep around, crawl, pull themselves up to stand and finally walk. Then they run and have more energy then you ever dreamed you once had.

As humans we spent the first two years of our lives practicing movements over and over every day. After two years of age the same amount of movement is necessary but environmentally it isn’t always provided for. Children need movement to learn to read and write properly. Often, kinder and early primary aged children have a perceptual motor program to continue developing their movement skills they started as infants. Why don’t we see babies avoiding the strenuous effort required to pull themselves up to stand? Simply answered - it is the human condition to develop our movement ability.

Fast forward to yourself today, are you getting enough exercise in your day? You know the research, the experts tell us that our bodies operate on a ‘use it or lose it’ program. The muscles you don’t use will atrophy and no longer give you the strength you currently enjoy now. Your joints also have a range of motion that becomes limited if you don’t use them. Some of this is part of the aging process but two people of the same age don’t look the same. We are all unique so there are no hard and fast rules here (illness, and injuries aside) the bottom line is your structure and physique are a culmination of the movements you spent doing in the last x years since you were born.

There are many factors beyond our control that limit our movement. Many of you reading this may feel that it is too late. You may feel that you are easily out of breath, your muscles are weak, your posture is poor, or that you are just not the athletic type. The good news is that if you’re feeling this way, this article is for you, the best thing you can do for yourself right now is to use your body to the best of its ability. If you can only move your arms, great, then do what you can. The more you move, the happier you’ll feel about your ability to move.  Humans have a birth right to enjoy as much movement as possible.

As a personal trainer, I often see the transformation in my clients. The person that walked in the door is not the same as the person who walks out the door. The biggest difference is the twinkle in their eye. There is an intangible feeling of self-satisfaction and achievement. I’m lucky to work with the most inspirational women. These women lead busy lives, have a tremendous amount to deal with every day and have every excuse in the book not to exercise.  Yet they keep coming back to train. I see them push through their limit, build strength, exercise their hearts and keep moving.

I hope this article motivates you to get up and take a walk, run or sprint. Plan your journey to a healthier you. Experience movement, it will make your heart beat. You will feel alive and happy. Being active should be enjoyed every day.