​Reasons to Exercise

Many people seek exercise in some form: yoga, walking, working out in a gym, sports, a recommended fitness routine, and so on. Some people work out every day doing something they believe is beneficial. This is good in the sense that movement, in general, is good. The human body is designed to move. 

The best reason to exercise is to make life significantly better. In order to make our lives work, the body must be in excellent shape. Look at children. Notice how much energy they have. They are not limited by aches and pains or the fatigue of sitting for hours in a chair. They have lots of energy. They have the will to try new things, experiment, fall, get up again, and play. 

This is what exercise should allow us to do. It should give us the clarity of mind to make wiser decisions. It should give us the energy to solve hard problems. It should give us the vibrance to make life fun and enjoyable. These are the larger goals of this approach to exercise. This approach teaches one about relaxation, lightness, and well-being. It works. 

Thus, the purpose of exercise is not solely to build muscles. It is not at all to impress someone else. It is not to run a marathon, although that is a great achievement. It is not solely to lift an even heavier weight. Rather, the purpose is living, to your utmost capability. 

There will be several direct effects of a sound exercise program. The most obvious is one’s physical health. For my Dad, his exercise program has caused a dramatic physical shift. Joy? A point difficult to believe. That is, for those who have not practiced exercise of any kind. I suggest that this approach of exercise, of all of the different types of exercise, is the most likely to produce a sense of joy while doing the exercises themselves. 

You may find this point counter-intuitive. It is possible to enjoy exercising. There are professional skaters who truly enjoy skating. There are gymnasts who truly enjoy gymnastics (I was one of them). I suggest that it is possible for the average person to enjoy doing their exercises, whether or not they are based on the views of this approach. Sensing an exercise–doing it over and over again–builds familiarity. Doing more of that exercise over time builds strength that is noticeable. It produces an awareness of the body, of things that happen in the mind as well as to the body. These effects become observable and enjoyable. 

Finally, the right exercise will always make one feel good. Just as a jogger knows the sense of relaxation that comes after a good jog, so too can ordinary exercise bring the same satisfaction. When you finish your exercises, your mind has been with what you were doing. Perhaps you achieved one or two new little physical things, and the sense of well-being is clear. This sense of well-being is accessible to all.
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