Sedentary

Treated myself to a pair of running shoes this Christmas.

Very excited, I went out on my first run, and quickly realised two things:

1. How out-of-shape I was
2. How natural running is

How easy it is to slip into a sedentary lifestyle, yet how unnatural it is for us humans.

We were made to move and be active, yet we go from bed, to kitchen seat, to car seat, to office seat, back to car seat, perhaps a restaurant seat, maybe even a theatre seat, then back home to the couch seat, finishing up at the kitchen seat again before going back to bed. All this sitting! It's doing us damage.

Inactivity makes the muscles go floppy – they don't have to hold anything up.

Inactivity makes the joints less flexible and lubricated.

Inactivity makes the bones weaker.

Inactivity makes the lungs and rib cage shrink.

Inactivity makes the heart get used to not pumping blood around very fast.

Inactivity makes you cold all the time.

When I started running, I realised my muscles were suddenly required to do their job; what they were made to do, to protect my skeleton from jars and shocks.

Feeling my spine bashing against my pelvis reminded me that tensing the abdomen acts as a girdle, which protects the whole back and spine area.

Feeling the bashing of my heel on the ground reminded me to run on my toes to protect my knees and cushion the rest of my body from impact.

Waving my arms back and to, reminded me how large my ribcage and lung capacity used to be.

Hearing my heart pounding in my ears, reminded me how good it was to feel my blood being forced through my body, instead of merely doing it's customary slow journey.

And finally, the “feel-good” factor. The endorphins that get pumped around the body make me feel alive and bouncing on the inside.

My personal favourite about going on a jog, is the character traits which it encourages. Peace, patience, long suffering, focussed thinking, more calm and relaxed inside. I become more philosophical and less stressed. More accepting. More in the Now.

So, I am not encouraging everyone to run, it doesn't suit everyone. However I will certainly encourage everyone to move more than their normal day dictates. Raise the bar slightly. Do some stretching,  palates,  yoga,  go for a swim,  a fast walk whilst swinging your arms,  anything to break out of this chair-hopping lifestyle.