MYTHS ABOUT EXERCISE
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
©Revised, 2008, The
Center For development
Today
it is almost heretical to present a reasonable article about exercise. By this I mean that In our view, most
people are simply not well enough to be doing heavy exercise, such as intense
running, intense weight lifting, and even some other sports that are popular
today like swimming due to the chlorine and other chemicals in the water. Others that are either dangerous or too
vigorous include much of mountain biking, for example, and even some skiing and
others.
I
realize this sounds very negative, but I will explain. We are here to develop ourselves
physically only to the extent needed to carry on our lives. We are not here to become weight
lifters, champion swimmers and so forth.
That is from a past era, I would maintain. Now it is the time to develop ourselves spiritually
instead. Therefore, I am cautious
and careful about physical exertion, and it is for this reason only.
It
is true that today trainers too often want their clients to be the very best
they can be, which means pushing them much harder than they would otherwise train. This is the truth today, but is not the
main reason for my cautionary attitude about exercise. It is more a spiritual matter, asking
what is the purpose of my life and is it physical development or spiritual
development?
Some
believe one can have it both ways.
That is, one can be an athlete and develop spiritually as well. Indeed, there are a number of books
promoting this approach. However,
for the type of development we suggest, physical activity, beyond that needed
for your daily life, will inevitably get in the way, as one needs loads of
extra rest and sleep, for example.
Also, the lifestyle of the athlete usually is not healthful, including
the diet of carbohydrates and fats, at times, and more. Thus, I do not believe one can really
combine the two.
This
does not mean one should be flabby and weak. Quite the contrary.
A slender body is a product of health, and not primarily exercise. To exercise more just to lose weight,
for example, may work for a few people, but is not optimal for many
others. The way to lose and keep
one’s weight is to eat correctly, think correctly, detoxify the body and that
way of doing things. So here again
I differ from many health authorities or all types.
Finally,
I do not wish to imply that exercise is bad or harmful. It is generally excellent for physical
development. However, it is not
helpful for spiritual development in the least. We do not find spiritual teachers and monks running
marathons, for example, for they know better. That is the point here, not that exercise is harmful in any
way, providing it is undertaken in a responsible manner. Now let us review the myths of
exercise:
MYTH #1. Strong muscles and a
beautiful body indicate you are in good health.
These
may make you feel like you have health, and everyone may tell you how wonderful
you look. However, I work with
people who look great, but have cancer or some other disease. It is certainly wise to care for your
body, but health goes far beyond muscles and body shape.
Judging
yourself or another based only upon how much or how many exercises one does is
insane. Human beings need to have
the strength to achieve a healthful lifestyle and that is about all. Physical strength is only one parameter
of health and ot an important one.
MYTH #2. A healthy heart and
healthy arteries indicate you are healthy.
This
is a recent fetish. Experience
with many people shows that if your body chemistry is truly in balance, your
arteries and heart will be excellent.
This is not to say that exercise is not needed. Some gentle walking is excellent for
circulation and the cardiovascular system. However, it is easy to overdo in trying to tone up your muscles
and one system that can be negatively affected is the cardiovascular system.
Gentle
exercise is beneficial for everyone, but a narrow-minded focus on
cardiovascular fitness is insane.
Recently a 25-year old woman consulted me complaining of fatigue and
depression. She was doing aerobic
exercise 3-5 evenings a week. Her
heart and arteries were probably fine, but her glandular system was so
exhausted she could hardly get out of bed in the morning. Her hair analysis indicated a depleted,
exhausted body. Exercise was just
aggravating the problem. This case
is typical of the 'exhausted exerciser'.
MYTH #3. Exercise rebuilds your
body.
Exercise
assists circulation of the blood and oxygenation of tissues, and can help
rebuilding in this sense. Mild to
moderate exercise is excellent for these purposes. Excessive exercise, however, can stress
the heart, arteries, and glands.
They are forced to respond to stress, and to use up energy in that
response. Muscles enlarge as a
response or accommodation to stress.
Large muscles are not a sign of health in themselves.
Healing
and rebuilding is largely a biochemical phenomenon, requiring proper nutrients,
and often requiring much rest so that energy can be directed to the area in
need of healing. Research supports
the idea that moderate exercise can provide the same benefits as vigorous exercise. The point is, don't overdo exercise any
more than you would overdo any other activity.
To
exercise when you feel well is great.
To exercise "in order to feel well" is skating on thin
ice. Today, most people are subtly
malnourished due to consumption of food that is low in trace elements and other
nutrients. No amount of exercise
will make up for these deficiencies.
It is a mistake to think you can compensate for a biochemical problem by
exercising.
The
result may be that you will feel well for a while. Later, you will find yourself addicted to exercise. If you skip it for two days, you will
feel depressed, constipated, irritable or exhausted. This occurs because exercise stimulates the adrenal glands
and can keep exhausted glands functioning - like whipping a tired horse. If you stop whipping, naturally the
horse will not feel like getting up or performing well.
MYTH #4. Exercise cannot be
harmful.
Most
marathon runners are good for several years. Then some of them must retire because they are 'burned
out'. Many professional athletes
die young. Indeed, they have one
of the shortest life spans of any group of adults.
Here
is something interesting. The slow
heartbeat of professional runners is due in part to their healthy heart, but
also due to a mechanism to slow their metabolism, because they put such strain
on their heart. Cysteine is
released from muscle tissue and slows the thyroid. The idea that since a little is good, more must be better, can
be lethal when applied to exercise.
Here
are some guidelines for exercise:
1. Don't use your pulse as your only guide. Many people are not that healthy, in
spite of a normal pulse rate.
2. Follow common sense. Don't push past exhaustion. Listen to yourself before you listen to any coaches, experts
or friends. Go at your own
pace. Do as much exercise as you
need to keep yourself fit for your lifestyle and that is all.
3. Don't use exercise as a crutch or drug. If you are running to get away from
your problems, you are misusing exercise.
If you are addicted to exercise, work toward getting unhooked, as you
would with any other addiction.
Addiction is not health, even if it makes you look and feel fantastic
while you do it.
4. If you skip exercise for a few days, you should
still feel very well. If you skip
your exercise and begin to feel depressed, exhausted, constipated or irritable
you are probably using exercise as a whip. Cut down slowly and look into other reasons why you are
feeling this way.
5. A tissue mineral analysis performed by a lab
that does not wash the hair, and interpreted by someone who understands it
well, can tell you if you are overdoing exercise. There is a list on this website of practitioners whom I
personally train and whom I trust.
The others, I do not trust with hair analysis. Click
here to reach that page.
The
properly performed and interpreted hair mineral test will often indicate
adrenal exhaustion. Gentle
exercise is acceptable and helpful for these people. Vigorous exercise in this condition only slows regeneration
and is quite dangerous for your health and healing.
6. Studies show that gentle to moderate exercise
regimens provide as much benefit as vigorous exercise. Involve your whole body. Exercise outside in the fresh air
whenever possible. Flexibility is
as important as strength and endurance.
Stretching and deep breathing are vital for health.
Walking,
swimming, bicycling and gardening are excellent. Long-lived people of the world often work hard and long, but
not necessarily strenuously.
Meditative exercises such as yoga or tai chi are also excellent. These involve stretching, deep
breathing and a moving meditation as well as developing strength and endurance.
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