Get Moving!
- March 30, 2005

The human body was made for locomotion. "God created us to move," is another way of saying that. Think about our joints and sockets; they were specifically created for movement! Unfortunately, disease, non-use or misuse too frequently impede us as we go through life, and locomotion is altered. I'll talk more about that later.

I like to walk at the local university's indoor track during the winter. Early morning, I'll find mostly students, retired folks, or other working people like me getting in a mile or two of low-effort, non-sweaty rounds before sitting all day at the office. On Fridays, my day "off", I sometimes walk in the middle of the morning when there is different group of people stretching their limbs. There are stay-at-home mothers or fathers, or part time employees, pushing strollers or supervising two or more children while running around the track.

One day I was amused to note little bobbing heads just visible above the half wall of the track. For these children, exercise is not a chore; not one more thing to do in a busy day. Rather, it is pure fun; release from being cooped up in the house; an opportunity to just run without any adult telling them they need to slow down or be careful or that running isn't allowed. It is a game- racing each other in improvised little match ups, hiding from Mom or Dad, seeing who can get around the track first. This picture of children running freely and joyfully is a helpful image as you contemplate the "drudgery" of exercising.

The reason I'm writing on this familiar topic is as a reminder that experts now tell us that any exercise is better than none, and that's it okay to break it up into bite sized pieces: ten minutes here; ten minutes there. Do deep knee bends while waiting for the computer to boot up, run in place while you wait for the water to warm up for the shower or sink, pace while you talk on the phone (but watch out, you can drive others crazy with this one). Here are more ideas at no or very low cost:

1. Get off the subway or bus one or two stops early, to add walking time. Or park your car several blocks (or parking lots) from your office, or at the far end of the parking lot.

2. Of course, use the stairways whenever possible.

3. When waiting for a child to get done with soccer practice or a music lesson, walk.

4. If the area you live in is unsuitable for walking, go to work earlier or stay later and walk in the area of your employment.

5. If your spouse enjoys shopping and you don't, use the time to walk around the mall, warehouse store or discount store, rather than just sitting somewhere and waiting or (worse), stewing.

6. Walk from store to store if you have several errands at opposite ends of the shopping center rather than driving your car a short distance.

7. Exercise 15-30 minutes while watching TV: get down on the floor for calisthenics, or invest in a cheap or stationery bike and pedal away.

8. Take a two-minute break every hour when working and do arm exercises, knee bends, or whatever you can discretely get away with in your setting.

9. Most areas that have college campuses have many great places for walking, indoors and out. Many often have swimming pools that are open to the public for certain hours each week at very low cost. Do some checking. Retirement communities also frequently have nice walking or jogging trails.

10. If you wash your car weekly, do it yourself (rather than going through the automatic) and you'll add seven to eight weekly minutes of fairly vigorous exercise.

The older I get, the more I have to struggle with stiff joints in my hips, and sometimes limp after doing some types of exercise. (It doesn't work for me to run very long). So if walking is a problem, some of these suggestions will sound impossible for you. Ask your doctor or a physical therapist about options. Most health clubs and community centers offer exercise programs for people with physical limitations.

The Bible tells us that we should take care of our bodies. It is also just common sense!
Submitted by Melodie Davis from her weekly column ANOTHER WAY
www.thirdway.com