We all know movement and exercise are good for us.
Often, we conjure up this image of “exercise” as wearing workout gear, at a gym, sweating around other sweaty people. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t really motivate me to start exercising.
‘Exercise’ doesn’t have to be hard, nor traditional, but it does have to be consistent.
This is my top take-away regarding exercise from a recent seminar. Exercise can be:
As easy as walking 30 minutes a day – not even all at one time! – but making sure you get your heart rate up when you are walking.
Doing Pilates or yoga right in your living room with a great app.
Resistance training.
Or pickleball!
It can also be housecleaning, as long as it gets your heart rate up.
There’s a great study about housecleaners for a hotel firm. Half of them were told the work they do is very physical and equivalent to exercising. The other half were told nothing new or different about their jobs. Over the next 3 months, the cleaners informed that the work they do is exercise lost noticeable weight!
Of course, exercise can also be more intense like going to the gym or training for a race. There are lots of traditional and not-so-traditional ways to move your body.
Regardless of what you do for exercise, the things to focus on for longevity:
Flexibility, Mobility, Strength, Coordination, Balance…and getting your heart rate up!
The next question, WHY is movement critical to our longevity?
Releases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) which is critical for nerve survival and growth, including repair from cellular damage (ooh, sounds important for brain health!)
Increases your stability and balance (hmm – also important as we age!)
Increases your cells’ ability to replicate without errors and omissions
Increases your cells’ cleansing process – gets rid of waste
Putting on muscle mass as we get older IS actually harder. The more you can put on now, the better.
This is a short list. Of course, there are many more reasons why exercise is critical to increasing our life longevity.
Again, the crux of the matter –
Exercise IS critical to improving our life longevity AND it doesn’t have to be hard, just consistent.
This week carve out time to start some intentional, deliberate movement to get your heart rate up! You deserve it!
With love and inspiration,
Dr. Michelle
PS – One of the best all-around exercises? Dancing!!