(or look forward to poor health, weight gain, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, arthritis and autoimmune disease).
The primary purpose of movement and activity is to develop and condition the brain
(Dr. John J. Ratey, neurophysiologist and author of Spark)
If you sit all day at a desk, on a computer, device or infront of Netflix, and then head off to the gym to exercise, then exercise is nothing but a supplement. The key is to move consistently throughout the day.
Movement of the spine charges the brain, just like a turbine charges a generator for electricity. The latest research is now painting a broader picture for the benefits of movement in the realm of neurology, development and optimal health.
Lack of movement (e.g. a sedentary lifestyle) promotes stress. There is a ‘disconnect’ between our active genetic design and our current sedentary lifestyle. It is killing us, literally.
Over the years as a chiropractor in Chatswood, I often see the consequences of this lifestyle choice. If you live a sedentary life, you’re missing out on the effective “stress-buster” known as movement.
are we designed to move or to be sedentary?
Today we have inherited an incredible genetic legacy, and one thing is for sure – you are the direct descendant of successful human beings. Your genetic make-up can be thought of as a ‘cellular blueprint’ for your health potential. Your genes were shaped over eons of time (thousands of generations) by environmental pressures and the choices that your ancestors made in order to adapt and survive all challenges. An active lifestyle a trait that all successful human beings had in common, and it is a critical concept to think of movement as a nutrient – just like water is critical to all aspects of cellular function, movement is also an essential element for health.
If your ancestors didn’t move, they didn’t eat. In fact, if they didn’t move, they were eaten. Early man lived an incredibly demanding lifestyle – hunting, gathering, fishing, defending, often packing up and moving – life was active. This genetic legacy that we’ve inherited expects and requires an extraordinary level of movement. In fact, genetic experts agree that our genome has remained nearly unchanged over the last 50-100 thousand years, yet our lifestyles today are nearly unrecognizable to the world that shaped them.
toxicity & deficiency
Poor posture and fixed positions can create stress in the body. Toxic and deficient movement patterns promote core weakness, muscle strain, inflammation and structural dysfunction. When joints do not move properly, they create irritation to the nervous system that acts a lot like ‘static’ or noise on a poorly tuned TV or radio. This noxious stimulation or nociception changes the brain’s function and influences the body’s chemistry. This type of joint dysfunction and associated nerve irritation is called subluxation.
Subluxations can occur in any joint, but the most devastating are found in the joints of the spine. These spinal misalignments can be caused by trauma or bad habits (or both), and their ill effects on your health can be profound. A distinctive quality of subluxation is joint fixation. When a joint is subluxated, a host of problems can arise. Joint decay and degeneration (arthritis) is promoted, proprioception (neurological input of ‘body sense’) is reduced and nociception (neurological ‘noise’/input to the brain) is increased – all of which promote stress in the body.
Healthy people practice regular spinal hygiene by utilizing movement exercises such as Life Extension Exercises or Desktop Exercises. A best practice is to implement these into your daily routine to combat stationary work and postural stress. Best results are achieved if you alternate these less than one-minute routine at least once every hour at the computer or work station. Make it a regular habit to get up and walk during your day. It is very unnatural for you to sit for extended periods of time – no matter how important the project.
Bottom line
Your cells require and expect movement to be healthy.
People who move and exercise regularly report less stress in their lives and experience fewer stress-related health problems.
Walk, swim, lift weight(s) or your body weight, ride a bike, workout in your garage or in the gym. You choose.
To add impact, exercise in nature. Nature has been proven to help decrease anxiety, increase happiness and help to improve your mood.
Your brain and body expect and require movement for health, and for life.
