Exercise has a direct positive impact on the incidence and progression of disease, and has been proven to help people dealing with cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, COPD, and of course, obesity.  By increasing the blood flow and the delivery of oxygen in the body, exercise can also protect against cognitive impairment and decline.

And, exercise increases the production of those feel-good hormones discussed in previous articles.  We improve our health, look better and feel better overall!  Posture improves.  Strength improves.  And along with it, confidence increases — and that translates into an overall feeling of well-being which helps us to better handle difficult or stressful situations and environments.

The recommendation is 30 minutes of moderately intense movement EVERY DAY.  That, in it, can seem intimidating and difficult to fit it.  So, you can’t find time to get to the gym?  Is feeling badly about not being able to find the time actually adding to your stress?  It’s important to do your honest best to fit movement into your daily life, without excuses or procrastination, but also without judgment.  As discussed in the previous articles, adding negative emotion to any situation (even one that’s supposed to be good for you) will create the physiological impact of stress in your body.  So skip the judgment and negative chatter about not being a gym rat and just look to improve from where you are now!

And it doesn’t have to be the gym.  Historically, the use of exercise has often been combined with religious, mystical or spiritual experiences.  Moving the body created a sense of well-being while opening them up to a greater experience that carried over into daily life.

Try these things:

• Park far away from the store and jog in.
• Run up and down your stairs.
• Jump rope in your living room.
• Do sit-ups and push-ups during TV commercials.
• Try a walking meditation during your lunch hour.
• When you get home from work, put on your favorite music and dance!

- By Anshu Rawat