Movement is Medicine

Years ago, Evelyn, a friend of the family, bestowed me the designation ROADRUNNER, which is in rhythm with who I am as a person...roadrunner-someone who is always on the go and moving.   

I’m at my best when I’m moving and grooving, and right now this is not an issue, but I’d like to keep it that way.  My goal is to maintain my kinetic energy pain free and with ease well into my nineties 

MOVEMENT FOR LONGEVITY  

 National Library of Science shows that movement is in fact one of the aspects of living a long & healthy life.  

Movement also is one of the 9 principles in THE BLUE ZONES.    

What are they?  

The Blue Zones are the regions around the. world where people tend to live longer than average and maintain good health, and where there are also high numbers of centenarians.  These regions are found across the globe.  

  • Okinawa, Japan 

  • Sardinia, Italy 

  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica 

  • Ikaria, Greece 

  • Loma Linda, California USA 

Furthermore, you will discover POWER OF 9 in the Blue Zones. These principles incorporate 9 evidenced based common denominators supporting living a long and healthy life and yes you guessed it, movement is on the top of the list  

This lifestyle of living long and healthy in the Blue Zones states and encourages natural, vigorous movement. The movement can include: gardening, walking, cooking daily, carrying your groceries on foot, cleaning, farming, and other daily chores. 

What about people in regions that move more via their vehicles or some other form of transportation?  It’s paramount for these folks, who do not move naturally as often, to maintain hip and ankle strength.  

GET STRONG WITH THESE: 

 5 EXCERCISES TO STRENGTHEN HIPS   

  • Knee lifts 

  • Leg raises 

  • Butterfly pose 

  • Seated marching 

  • Hip circles            

 EXCERCISES TO STRENGTHEN ANKLES  

  • Seated banded plantar Flexion 

  • Seated banded Dorsiflexion 

  • Seated banded inversion 

  • Seated banded eversion 

  • Single leg lateral hop 

Just pick a few in each exercise category to do every day and keep the body parts strong, which will translate to moving with ease.   

Most of all, the most important thing to remember is “move it or lose it.”   

Seriously, what you do not use, will dissipate. 

Thus, movement is medicine. To do it, is to stay healthy and happy, as it will benefit you emotionally and mentally, improve arthritis symptoms, reduce anxiety, boost energy and it allows you to recover more quickly after a surgery.   

MOVEMENT ON THE ROAD: 

There are hundreds of ways to move naturally and at the gym, but for those of us who do travel a bit, here are some ways to stay fit and move on the road: 

  • Pack a jump rope and bands when traveling.  These two fitness accessories are light weight and allow one to do cardio and strength exercises in 20 minutes wherever one happens to find themselves in the world.   

  • One more thing to pack for moving pain free, and that is the Kefi L!fe Arnica Salve.   Loaded with natural pain soothing ingredients such as Menthol, Cayenne pepper and Kefi L!fe extra virgin olive oil to name a few.  Use it to get a cool to warm sensation.  Applying Arnica Salve will support the healing of sore muscles, bruises, sprains and joint pain.  What a relief!   

I leave you today with the words of Albert Einstein, “Nothing happens until something moves.”  

As I move into the next blog, I wish you and yours Ola Kala, All is Well. 

Filakia-Kisses, 

Kiki 

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