Do you ever wonder what is real and what is not? Exercising your physical body and using your senses and awareness is a basic way of showing you what your physical reality is.
Maybe you think exercising or doing things physically is a bad thing. When I was in school and physical education was required, someone asked the teacher what the value of exercise was. Surprisingly, the teacher was stumped and couldn’t answer. She didn’t say anything about health benefits, competitive sports, being outdoors, camaraderie, or fun. After that, I never took exercise too seriously. Because like a lot of people, if I did not understand why to do something, then I didn’t do it.
Some kinds of exercise, especially of the dancing variety improve the cognitive function in your brain because the physical body has to connect to the brain and helps to develop new neural connections. It reduces the risk of dementia. Another benefit if you are in a class is that there is a sense of camaraderie and community with the other participants since everyone is doing what you are doing. And there is no judgment. As I said to someone in one class, it isn’t like we are practicing to be Rockettes. If you have happy, smiling instructors (like I do), so much the better because they are having fun themselves.
As you age, the body needs different things to maintain itself. Balance and muscles to get up are extremely important. I knew someone who was older who fell on the sidewalk and was unable to get up until a passer-by stopped and helped her get up. You don’t want to be the person lying on the sidewalk.
One important thing is to find an activity where you can have fun and enjoy yourself so it is something you want to do and not have to do. This depends on your personal circumstances, what you like to do, and where and how you like to do it.
I find that I have fun, endorphins and serotonin are increased, and I feel better. Not to mention that I am improving my muscles, burning calories, improving coordination, gracefulness, and balance. And interestingly, I think and come up with all kinds of ideas while I am exercising.
The overwhelming perception I have when I exercise is that I feel alive and that I exist. I am aware of my own reality, if only for a short amount of time. So during this time, when sometimes outside reality may be questionable, I know for sure what is real.
So if you want to know what is real in your world, try exercising and connecting with your physical body and see what you think and feel. And see if you can tell the real from the unreal.
Finding the good in all things…
Celeste
Silver Lining Musings by Celeste 