The daily newspaper becomes thinner every day. The quality of articles seems to be following suit. Today the breaking news on the Today section was: New exercise guidelines: Move more, Sit less. Who doesn’t know that? Rolling my eyes in disgust, I turned to the comics.
My extreme reaction to this article may be because, unconsciously of course, I’m worried that you will have a similar reaction to my next series of blog posts I’m thinking of basing on The Aware Athlete by Scott Forrester. I heard Scott interviewed several months ago and was so impressed I had to purchase his book.
At this point that is all I have accomplished. But I want to remember why I got this far by actually opening the book and I decided that I would more likely follow through on reading it, since it isn’t devoted to writing or psychoanalysis, the books I’m glued to these days, if I read parts for each week’s post and then wrote a post because any help I can get to stay healthy, and I assume it’s the same for you, is worth it.
So far I haven’t made it past the Forward by Alimine Barton, a Certified Fitness Trainer who must also be a good writer because while I usually skip Forwards when they are not by the author, I read this in its entirety.
One question I was left with, and the question I want to pass on to you, is this: How is fitness different from exercise?
Ms Barton answers in this way: Exercise maintains an organism. Fitness increases the potential of an organism, whether it be animal or human. She said that Forrester’s book, the one I purchased and haven’t read yet, answers this question and hopefully, I think, will explain her answer.
In the meantime, I’m going to read more and see if I can figure it out. What is fitness? And I’ve emailed the author so I’m publishing this early just in case he goes to the website. If you have any ideas about how fitness is different from exercise or what it is, please let me know by replying to this email (it works!) or go to comment section on the exploring the mystery blog.
CLUE: When you stand up from reading this or the next time you think of it, take a deep breath and feel it all over your body. Now the former MD in the house will say that isn’t possible, that breath doesn’t go all over your body, but try it anyway.
Thanks for exploring the mystery – Nicky Mendenhall
5 comments
Interesting question, Nicky! I think exercise has to do with moving the body and fitness implies a more wholistic approach–the body, the food intake, the stress level.
And … I'm with you! I believe that the breath does move throughout the whole body.
Nolan Hiatt
Wed, Nov 14, 11:13 PM (12 hours ago)
to exploring
We stopped the newspaper last year and I missed it, mostly the 3 crosswords, for the first month or two. Now I find it is a relief not worrying about it. I felt compelled to at least scan every article so as not to waste money. Now I spend that time exercising to get fit. The process is so slow and gradual that it is hard to keep the faith.
Hi Diane!
That's what I'm thinking about the difference between exercise and fitness so we will see what I learn as get into the book further.
And as for the breath – when we can feel it we know it.
Thanks so much for reading and the comment!
Hi Nolan,
I remember once I stopped the paper and felt some relief at having the time for something else – I think I would read another book – one that I wanted to squeeze in sometime. I think your idea of using the time for exercise is brilliant.
The process of getting fit at the same time that we are aging is a challenge. I'm hoping that I learn some things to help us.
Thanks for reading and commenting – so happy always to hear from you!
Thank you dear friend,
Your description of breathing was instructive to me – the idea that everything in the body moves, even if only a tiny bit, helps me pay attention more to the effects of breathing.
Chronic tension does interfere with our ability to feel. I've been reading in Bodies in Revolt by Thomas Hanna, about Wilhelm Reich and how to remove muscular armor.
Thanks for reading and your support!
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