Exercise and the Elements

     After many years of resistance I am now thoroughly convinced that consistent exercise is one of the key contributing factors to good health. Not so much because exercising burns calories, but because it gets clean, fresh energy moving through our bodies. Before the age of technology, movement was an integrated part of everyday life, so the need to set aside time to exercise was often unnecessary. It seems that our minds and bodies function best when we are moving throughout the day, but the majority of today's jobs are fairly sedentary - especially since computers came onto the scene. Added to this, we now spend most of our time indoors. This disconnects us from two of the most beautiful things we can experience as humans - our bodies and nature.
     Most people who do exercise regularly seem to take a rather mechanical approach. They focus on working particular muscle groups, reaching a target heart rate or burning a certain number of calories. I encourage people to instead focus on how it feels to move their body and to utilize this time to consciously strengthen their body/mind connection.
     Finding various forms of exercise that you truly enjoy is, to me, a top priority. When I first started exercising regularly, I jogged every morning. I often felt tired afterwards and dreaded it slightly. Over time I have incorporated bike riding and brisk walking (both of which I really love) into my daily routine. By the time I am done, my body feels open and energized and my mood is noticeably lifted. I usually go for an additional quick fifteen-minute walk at least once a day as well to keep my energy moving smoothly. Even five or ten minutes of walking or other physical activity can make a tremendous difference. Once you put your mind to it, it is actually quite easy to incorporate movement into your daily routine.
     I also stretch for fifteen minutes or so at the end of my cardiovascular workout. This is an important part of an exercise routine that is all too often overlooked. Stretching gives you a wonderful opportunity to really be with your body and to relax into a deeper place within your being.
     I encourage people to exercise outdoors whenever possible. Ideally in a natural setting where you can open your senses and take in the beauty of nature, absorbing the nurturing energy of the earth and enjoying the expansive freedom of the open sky.
     Another point to consider is that exercise is one of the best stress reducers there is. In today's world stress is an issue for almost everybody. When you find that you are feeling tense, a good cardiovascular workout is the way to go.
     Consistency, enjoyment and variety are incredibly important for all of us when looking at exercise. In addition, each of the elements has it's own considerations.

Fire elements tend to have an excess of energy moving through their body. It can feel so intense, that they just don't know what to do with it. Although Fire energy is centered in the belly, when too much gets pent up inside the energy can move into the mind causing them to be very head strong. A good cardiovascular workout can help to release the build-up of energy in their system, quickly relaxing the tension in their mind and allowing their awareness to drop into their body where it resides naturally. Fire elements do seem to resist incorporating any kind of consistent routine into their life - including exercise - but remember, you will feel a lot better and be much more productive on the days that you do.

Water elements need to be a little gentler in their approach to exercise. Including some soft, flowing movement helps Water elements tune into their sensual nature and feel more at ease in their body and the physical environment. Exercise not only keeps our physical energy stream clear, but perhaps more importantly for Water elements, it helps keep our emotional energy stream clear. Anything that assists us in this process is definitely worth doing.

Air elements tend to live in their head more than the other elements but exercise can really help to bring their awareness down into their physical body. To assist in this process it is important that they do exercise where their feet are making contact with the ground. If bike riding and/or swimming are your main forms of exercise make sure you get a good walk or run in daily to strengthen the connection between your body and the earth.

Earth elements do best when they are physically interacting with their environment throughout the day so I recommend that they do work that requires this such as carpentry, gardening, pottery, massage, etc. If you are an Earth element and in a sedentary job you will be a lot better off with a bit of exercise before work, at lunch and in the evening when you get home. Also, Earth elements can lean towards inertia very easily if not consistently moving. If it is hard to get motivated, getting out in nature often helps.

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