For the majority of the western world, our diet, our relationship with the outside world and our movement habits have devolved to such an extent that we have to set aside extra time in our day to exercise to stay fit and healthy.
The exception to this is people who have to be fit for their job such as soldiers and police (many of whom are nowhere near the physical condition of people a few generations ago) professional sportspeople or enthusiasts. Some others fall into the category of exercising to relax or de-stress.
One of the most common forms of exercise is running. Traditionally there were only three reasons to run. Out of fear, to catch something or to relax. However, the vast majority of everyday people who exercise, do so grudgingly. They do it under doctors orders, out of image consciousness or because they know they should.
How many of you have seen the classic face book post of a young African boy looking at a western woman with a look of incredulity on his face? He is posing the question, ‘So let me get this straight. You drive 45 minutes, to go to a gym, to sit on a bike, and then drive 45 minutes home again?’
As far as I know, we are the only species on the planet that has devolved to this level. We continually find easier and easier ways to do things to save us time, and then have to find more and more time to exercise to stay healthy. The proverbial hamster wheel.
There is also the flip side. Some people exercise excessively and always seem to be carrying an injury or are on the verge of injury. Or they have to eat five meals a day plus protein shakes and supplements in order to maintain their musculature and allow them to train with that intensity. If a tiger did this he would be dead very quickly.
I am no different. I have spent Twenty odd years exercising. Only recently have I started looking at it in another way. Two years ago I asked Vladimir Vasiliev what his exercise regime was. His reply left me laughing at the simplicity of it, ‘Have you ever seen a Tiger doing push ups?’ It was over a year later when Martin Wheeler gave me the other half of it, ‘but you have to be a Tiger in every moment.’ There lies the rub. In order to not have to exercise you have to find space in your everyday movements and living to make everyday existence your exercise.
I don’t just limit this to just physical exercise to control calories. This is also about mobility to keep joints healthy, reduce tension, keep your internal body functioning as it should (blood flow, motor coordination, heart and lungs etc.), maintaining your maximal range of movement, and using movement and breathing to manage your levels of stress and anxiety and other such emotions.
This is easier to do than you think. A Tiger sleeps a lot and spends much of its time resting. When it moves though, it moves well.
This weekend I am running a 4 hour introduction to Systema Seminar in Bristol to celebrate the opening of a new Systema School. We will cover how to turn basic everyday movement into exercise. We will look at how movement can restore the body when it is fatigued and emotionally strained. How movement can deeply relax you. We will then progress to applying your natural, spontaneous movement into highly effective self-defence.
Please click here for more details of the event. It is ideal for beginners and advanced students alike.
