Our ability to expand our energetic field depends on the cleansing and strengthening properties of regular exercise. Movement, well-being, and libido coordinate in a cycle. If we exercise, we feel better — energy levels rise, aches subside, and self-image improves. When we feel better and more energized, we’re more likely to engage in a broader variety of activities, including sexual intimacy.
Research shows that as we age, the upper regions of our lungs atrophy from lack of use. We so rarely take in a full breath that the tissues of the lungs near our collarbones degenerate from disuse. The same goes for the entire body — we atrophy in the areas that are stagnant. Movement and exercise are the antidote.
When we sit for long periods of time, which is so often the case in the modern age of cars and computers, we become like a swamp on the inside. Sure, the heart is beating, so the blood is flowing in a general sense, but the process is far from ideal. Toxins accumulate in recesses of the body and get stuck in the soft tissue. Those knots around the neck and shoulders? Toxins hide in there. With exercise, blood flows more readily and, like a dam can break with heavy water flow, so those knots break up with increased blood flow. That’s why exercise can help get rid of those pesky knots for a while. They come back when we are stagnant again, which is why regular exercise is a great habit.
Ever get nauseas after doing twists in yoga class? The wringing out of the toxins in the abdominal cavity can create a temporary sick feeling resulting from a toxin release into the blood stream. The same result can occur after a deep massage. Drink some extra water, use the bathroom, and voila! — many report feeling lighter with a surge of energy and life force.
The process is like giving your body a shower on the inside. Cardio-vascular exercise gets the heart pumping hard, and a strong cardiac contraction will send oxygenated blood more efficiently to every cell of your body. But there are other ways too. An inversion practice in yoga, which takes your body upside-down, shakes up the routes of fluid flow to rattle loose some of the residue, enhancing the flow of nutrients in and toxins out. It almost doesn’t matter what type of movement you choose — you could take a jog or a yoga class or do your physical therapy home exercise program— but increasing movement is a ticket to feeling and performing better in all areas of your life.
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Olivia Barry is a Integrative Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor, you can make an appointment with her by emailing us or calling 310 451 8880
