The Roman Army of ancient Rome was so powerful because of its Training and Equipment which was advanced for its day. In order to be considered fit enough to be a legionnaire (the name given to a Roman soldier), one had to be able to march 20 miles in 5 hours with the full armour and kit weighing 45lbs. And then do a fast 18-mile march, and at the end build a marching camp. They were put through many boot camp-style exercises and the fact that this style of training is still used by modern armies is testament to its success. They trained with wooden swords that were twice as heavy as the real thing so that in battle they were deadly fast.
Life is a battle. So why exercise on top of all the stresses you face each day?
Exercise: Definition: latin: exercitium: keep busy, practice.
Exercise is the closest thing to the “magic bullet”, for maintaining youth and optimal health. A well-balanced combination of exercise and nutrition benefits your body both physically and psychologically.
Regular exercise improves digestion and the body’s elimination process (If food goes into your stomach where strong hormones/chemicals break down the food into a soup which is spooned into the small intestine, (don’t be fooled the small intestine is 22 feet long approx . 3 and one-half times longer than your body.), where the nutrients are transferred to the bloodstream so they can be used by the body. Then what is left over goes into the large intestine where more good stuff is taken out such as water etc and what is left is stool which is excreted).
Exercise helps this digestive process, as well as energy levels, and promotes lean body mass while burning fat.
Exercise reduces stress and anxiety, which can contribute to illness and other unwanted conditions. Why is this? Well, the Mind/brain can only concentrate on one thing at a time. This statement is not entirely true. A better way to put it is, the present worry, anxiety, stress, attention grabber, that predominates your immediate actions or inactions, takes a lot of your physical and mental energy. When you exercise you are forced to concentrate on what you are doing and you by doing the exercise break the chain/link to the unwanted stress grabber.
According to its 1996 report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, low fitness may pose as a greater risk to health as smoking and a greater risk than high cholesterol, high blood pressure or obesity,
It was reported that smokers that were moderately physically fit were alive longer than non-smokers who are healthy but sedentary, (a person who sits at work or sits and is not active).
What You Can Do
Moderate fitness can be achieved in 10 weeks, through many different forms of exercise such as bicycling, walking or even gardening. However, it is best to have a daily routine of some of the following.
- Static exercises are low-level exercises to calm down the body’s muscles that are overstretched and tired.
- Range of motion exercise helps maintain a joint’s complete movement by putting the body through a certain set of movements.
- Strengthening exercises helps the muscles ability to contract and do work.
- Doing sit-ups for example strengthens abdominal muscles.
And part of keeping fit requires the ability to keep going and have an interest in your health. Getting regular chiropractic adjustments really helps your overall wellness and keeps you motivated to stay on top of your health. So come into the clinic before Xmas and get adjusted.
JOHN KEANE. SPINOLOGIST