Researchers have proven that a third of adults all over the world take so little exercise that millions of people die each year as a direct result. It is a sobering thought, particularly since it contributes to the obesity pandemic which is another major and unnecessary killer.
I am an advocate for population reduction and free will, but to die prematurely through ignorance or carelessness seems such a waste of life, which is there to be enjoyed: we miss so much if we spend half our lives sleeping or watching a screen. Our bodies need to be used, constantly, and if they are not, then they stop working, a little bit like a clock which needs to be wound up regularly in order to maintain its natural rhythm.
In my work I talk and teach about the importance of honouring the body, but I do not emphasise exercise very much - and I should, for those who are fortunate enough to be able to move around. Our physical being is the vehicle for our soul, part of the human equation of body-soul-spirit which is the gift of our journey in any lifetime on Earth. If the body is unbalanced or dishonoured, through apathy or complacency, the other parts of the spiritual triangle will suffer.
I have witnessed, in my own family, how quickly an elderly person can use the lose of their legs, literally, by choosing rarely to move from their chair even though there is no reason not to do so, and how they can become housebound and wheelchair-bound as a result. If we do not use our bodies, they will give up.
I too am one of the many people who use a computer and phone for hours at a time during the working day and sometimes in the evening, and while I walk outside or garden when I can, I know I could and should do more and that it is not enough to resolve to be more active tomorrow or when the weather improves. Honouring the body is a constant process if done properly and lovingly. I am so glad to have been reminded.]]>
