Exercise Yourself To Health
The Purpose Of Exercising
Under normal circumstances, exercising one’s body would not be necessary. Man, like every other
animal, was meant to live in nature, have plenty of fresh air, and be involved in enough physical activity
to keep the body fit and vital. Technological and economic advancements, however, have led to an
increasingly sedentary lifestyle, which requires physical exercise to keep our bodies healthy and strong.
The purpose of physical exercise is not only to prove to ourselves that we are able to defy the aging
process, look good, or prevent a heart attack. Exercise also enhances our capacity to digest food and
eliminate physical and emotional impurities. Furthermore, it increase firmness and suppleness, as well as
our ability to deal with stressful situations. The lymphatic system, especially, which drains toxic and
noxious substances from the connective tissues of the organs and muscles, depends on the daily
movement of all the parts of the body. Unlike the blood, which has a heart to circulate it around the body,
the lymph fluid has no such direct pumping device to do the same. The lymphatic system heavily relies on
the breathing mechanism and how well we use it. When the muscle responsible for the breathing action of
the lungs (diaphragm) extends into the abdomen, it exerts great pressure on the intestinal lymph vessels,
thereby squeezing their contents. This forces the lymph to move through the lymph ducts, such as the
thoracic duct. Thus, each inhalation and exhalation acts as an indirect pump for the lymphatic system.
Shallow breathing that results from a sedentary lifestyle (and intestinal congestion) has a detrimental
effect on proper lymph drainage. Exercise can greatly improve lymphatic functions and thereby prevent a
multitude of diseases.
Physical exercise is a great immune-stimulant if done in moderation, and it also improves
neuromuscular integration in all age groups. Its effect of boosting self-confidence and self-esteem stems,
to some extent, from the improved oxygen supply to the cells and the resulting well-being in all parts of
the body and mind. Exercise is an excellent means of increasing happiness in life, especially if it involves
challenges that require creativity.
The conventional approach to exercise promotes the belief that a good workout takes you to the limits
of your endurance, leaving you exhausted and tired. This is not true. Exercise that exhausts your body is
an indirect act of violence that the body perceives as a kind of punishment for not performing well
enough. The pain that shows in people’s faces when they struggle through a tough workout program is an
indication that the body is suffering from overexertion. This sort of exercise defeats its purpose. Any form
of strong physical exertion upsets Vata and causes the secretion of abnormal amounts of stress hormones
such as adrenaline; this leaves the body restless and shaky. The body, thus depleted of energy, is unable to
do the repair work that arises from the demanding workout, leaving the cardiovascular system weak and
vulnerable to other stress factors.
Post-exercise exhaustion is a serious cause of illness that affects many unsuspecting people who think
they are doing themselves a favor by pushing their bodies to the limit. In the excitement of competitive
sports, you may not be aware at first how strenuously you are exerting yourself, but once the adrenaline
rush is over, the side effects start kicking in. Besides exhaustion and possible injury, professional athletes
are more likely to suffer from a deficient immune system, which makes the body prone to infections and
other ailments. For this reason, athletes consume a much larger quantity of prescribed drugs than the
average person does. The thymus gland, which activates lymphocytes and controls energy supplies, may
actually shrink in size and leave the body weak and debilitated as a direct result of over conditioning the
body and stressing the mind.