A Fit Body – SHIFT
Five frogs are sitting on a log. One decides to jump into the pond. How many frogs are left on the log?
The answer is five. Although the one frog decided to jump he is still sitting there thinking about it. I think of this story every time I feel a need to make a commitment to physical activity or physical fitness. I am FULL of good intentions but the couch potato in me would rather put in a disk from my 13 season set of MASH programs a watch it in my comfy chair than go for a walk. I have decided to be fit many, many times.
A Fit body is found on your index finger in on the SHIFT hand.
Sharp mind – pinky finger
Happy heart – ring finger
Independent spirit – middle finger
Fit body – index finger and
Trusting soul – thumb
Your index finger is the one you wag at people when you disapprove or are trying to emphasis a point. Like the finger print on that finger measuring levels of fitness is individual. there are as many ways to get and stay fit as there are people in the world. There are people who never really have to think about being fit. They just are. There are others who have tried every program and have never quite succeeded in reaching the level of fitness they are looking for and are never really satisfied with how they look and feel in their body.
Physical intelligence is one we sometimes ignore. Our bodies have wisdom. They KNOW things. They know when we have had too much food or drink. They send us messages to indicate any kind of over indulgence… and they send us warning messages too but most of us have learned to ignore those in favour of a good time. They know when we have over exerted ourselves and when we should stop our extreme workouts and take a rest.
The best advice I have ever heard for Physical fitness is found in the RENEW. Rest is essential. We all need a daily dose of sleep. Our needs vary but we all experience exhaustion when they are not met. Energy is essential. We all need a source of motivation and energy, a feeling of euphoria we get from participating in a game or a sport. Nutrition is essential. This is another area where if we listen to our body we can learn what it needs as far as nutrition goes. We have a wonderful system that can take what is needed from what is provided and eliminate the rest. Exercise is essential. We need to move everyday or our muscles atrophy and we become weak. Walking or curling or swimming or shoveling or dancing. It doesn’t matter. You just need to move. Water is essential. It is the first medicine. It is life-giving. It is what keeps us alive. We are made of water. Rest, Energy, Nutrition, Exercise and Water = RENEW.
Listen to your body. Where are you on the fitness finger today? Closer to the tip of the finger is feeling fit and powerful and in control. Closer to the palm of the hand indicates a need to depend on other intelligences to get you through the day and back to where you can DECIDE and then act on the decision to move. Bodies are like that. Use it or lose it.
Trust your body to be there for you if you need it. When you feel threatened it will respond with Fight Flight or Freeze to give you what you need to survive. Treat it with the respect that it deserves. It is your home. It is wise and by listening to it and answering its requests of you, you will be able to improve your physical intelligence, your FIT body score.
