Move it or lose it! You might have heard something similar before but have you really internalized the implications of such an idea? The fact of the matter is that the LACK of movement we are getting, even among those who workout regularly is limited. This impacts our body’s ability to operate optimally. The secret is adding a more diverse arrangement of movements into your daily routine.

Many common pain symptoms are a result of your body not getting all of the movement it requires to perform to your maximum ability.  This is hard for most of us to hear. Accepting this places RESPONSIBILITY on THE SELF. We say things like, “I have bad knees,” or “That’s my bad foot,” or my favorite, “I’m just all messed up.” It is easy to think that your health is out of your control.

However, our health is not out of our control. This is the good news. As one of our great minds, Tim Ferriss says, “REALITY is NEGOTIABLE.”

The truth is: YOU are NOT UNIQUE, nor are you the product of some genetic mishap if your lower back hurts, or if your knees hurt, or your shoulders, hips or neck. You are the product of our modern lifestyles. Simply stated, your comfortable chairs, beds and sofas are so comfortable that you don’t want to get out of them.

The lie we are all told is that our modern comforts are a sign of success. But what is the result from all of this sitting? Our modern comforts come with a large price tag: our health!

There was a time when studies were done that quantified the average Americans level of physical activity and they divided people into two general categories: active and sedentary. Things haven’t changed but our language has been refined. People now fall into these two categories: sedentary or actively sedentary.

Cricket…..

You: Hmmm.. So everyone is sedentary?

Me: YES! EVEN ME and I teach yoga for a living!

Let’s face it. Even if you are an active person and you workout 5-6 days a week, you most likely also sit for a good portion of your day. Furthermore, when you do workout, whether it is yoga, training for a sport, or running, your movements are limited! You are not getting the fullest range of movements of which your body and your spine are capable.

The pain we often complain about is a result from sitting for long periods of time. Many of our muscles are constantly in a contracted state and the result is that the muscles can become tight and weak. The muscles that aren’t firing get so used to their dormant state that when they do fire, often times they do so in a far from efficient manner. This paragraph is a book all on its own. 

If you want a pain free body, the fix is not in a medication. Nor is it in an herb or essential oil. To rid your body of pain you must eliminate the movement habit that caused it in the first place and replace it with a more diverse physical routine.