The number one consideration with exercise – WHY. This is the idea behind this article to give you a better understanding of what is your why.
What is exercise?
Exercise is activity that you exert physical effort. It is undertaken for a variety of reasons, to either look, feel or function better. Exercises are commonly used to improve or maintain physical fitness or looks, and overall health and wellness. It is undertaken for different goals, including strengthening your body, improving the cardiovascular system, improving athletic skills, weight loss/gain, physical appearance, mental clarity and lastly, enjoyment.
What is the ‘Total Health Chiropractic’ approach to exercise?
Like other lifestyle tasks, such as eating thinking and responding better; we categorise exercise generally as moving better, a key factor in your wellbeing/health. As with the other tasks, its purpose, design and implementation are based on your needs and goals. This is based upon who you are, your health status and what you need/want, which makes up the WHY to exercise. Your particular program needs to be designed for you, performed the correct way and at the best timing for you. If you are ready to do it.
What are the signs/symptoms that the way you exercise is negatively impacting?
Our community has been conditioned to believe more is better, so if you want to increase the benefit from exercise, do it harder/longer and complete it more times. This can be seen with the military type training, where people push through their limits, in the aim of a new personal best. While the initial thrill of being a winner is exhilarating, the regret of “I wish I hadn’t pushed so hard” later, is based on a short term gain, in opposition to a long term – sustainable health benefit. It is unfortunate that we have seen many past elite athletes end up with lifelong suffering from their earlier athletic pursuits.
How can you improve your exercise technique and activities?
Like our approach to Chiropractic, healthcare involves gentle precise adjustments to basically reprogram your nervous system; carefully guided intelligent movement of the spine and joints can also contain powerful and effective health benefits and outcomes. Often small changes to exercise technique results in disproportionately impressive results. As with all professions and in particular health practitioners like Total Health Chiropractic, you need to find a coach that shares your values and goals, as well as having the knowledge in the area.
5 common misconceptions with exercise
More is better: This may create more harm than good.
Harder is better: Brute force is not always the best option.
No pain – no gain: Again, this can create more harm than good.
We all have the exact physical needs: If it works for somebody else it’s safe and appropriate for me too.
If I don’t feel well, I should sweat it out: If you are run down, the first idea is REST. Before you exercise, you must ensure that you be fully rested, and also well nourished.
5 simple ways to improve your exercise activities
First ask why. Why do you want to exercise?
Use professional guidance, find health care professionals to support you!
Find a program that you like! If it is something you don’t like, you won’t be motivated.
Listen to your body. If you don’t feel 100% don’t push it.
Ensure your spine and nerve system is working at its best, to give you the support and integration potential you deserve.
Total Health 
