Physical Activity and Exercise

 

Most of us today are physically inactive. Throughout the day we do a lot of mental work but very little physical work. We get up from the bed, and sit and sit and sit. Starting from office work, travelling in a car or vehicle, eating breakfast-lunch-dinner, watching television, gossiping, having snacks, reading newspapers and magazines, writing - every other work is almost done in sitting posture. Only few of muscles work during sitting. Most of the work which need real physical activity - have either been mechanized or transferred to servant/employee. Examples of such work are - lifting weight, climbing stairs, walking to the market, washing our clothes, cleaning the floor, gardening, cleaning our house, dusting. All the physical activities in the kitchen have also been reduced by mixers, grinders and lately, dish washers.

Today, the only physical activity left is probably voluntary walk, (morning or evening), few kinds of sports as hobbies (like golf, swimming, tennis, badminton) but many of them are either reduced in duration or made grossly irregular by constraint of time and other commitments of modern busy life.

Muscles of the body, joints, heart, and lungs - which are in dire need of these exercises are the losers in this process. They gradually lose their health and fitness. They become sluggish and the day you suddenly need any strenuous physical activity - they refuse to strain and get exhausted and fatigued.

Regular exercise, not only keeps us fit but also prevents diseases like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and health conditions like obesity and early ageing. A minimum of 30 minutes of exercise - where the whole body is exerted to 70% of our maximum level - is very ideal for this purpose. Aerobic exercise, walking, cycling, swimming, table tennis. lawn tennis, badminton, jogging, skipping, stationary cycling - anyone can be a good choice.

But most of these are fitness exercises and should ideally be supplemented by some kind of flexibility exercises and relaxation of the body-mind combine. Nothing can compete yoga on this front. Yogic postures (asanas) and meditation are the most beneficial ways of achieving both these. In modern society everybody seems to be stressed beyond the optimum level and the spinal problems, joint diseases are common because of lack of flexibility exercises.

So, I would recommend for every individual a combination of 30 minutes of fitness exercise and 15-20 minutes of yoga-meditation per day - to keep one in the best of health.

So far as heart patient is concerned - they are different from a normal individual because of the insufficient blood supply to the heart muscles. Most of them have crossed 70% blockages in one or more of their heart arteries. They must know the safety of their fitness exercises - when they indulge into fitness them. They should learn the extent to which they can carry on.

Hope you liked this article!                                                                          

This article is written  by Dr. Bimal Chhajer (Heart Caring Specialist)