Years ago, I created a presentation which I called, “The 7 Habits of Highly Fit People”. The title borrowed from the seminal Stephen Covey book. I love that book, and highly recommend it. It is one of my all time favorites for personal development. The purpose of my presentation was to give the audience a framework for developing and following a successful fitness lifestyle. However, I have revised my thinking a bit. I no longer use the term “fit” in this regard, opting instead for “well”. You see, a person can be fit without being well. And since my focus is on Therapeutic Training, I have changed the title of this work to “The 7 Habits of Highly Wellthy People”. Most of you know by now that my desire is for each and every one of you to join me in my journey of strong health and vitality. It is my raison d’etre. I know that you don’t have to be and do what everyone else is and does. We can be different. All it takes is strict adherence to simple principles. These principles guide me in my wellness journey, and it is my hope that you adopt them. I have modified my original list as I have grown and experimented. So, here are the 7 habits, starting with habit 1: Habit 1: Plan your week around theraputic exercise
One of the most important things that I have learned to do is to take a look at my schedule every Sunday for the up coming week. I review and make sure that I have time set aside on my schedule every day to engage in theraputic exercise. Now, here is my definition of theraputic: Exercise which can be done with 100% effort every single day without any negative side effects, including chronic tightness or pain, and which allows for continuous beneficial improvements of both physical and mental fitness.
Think about that for a moment. What kind of exercise can you do which meets the strict criteria I just laid out? Most forms of exercise, if done at 100% effort daily, will produce some form of overuse injury or tightness. Note that I am not saying that you shouldn’t run or play tennis for exercise, because these activities can produce mentally theraputic results and physical fitness. However, you would also need to “cross train” in order to help to avoid imbalance and overuse injuries. Theraputic exercise includes proper stretching, deep breathing, low impact calisthenics, and meditation. Your focus should be on developing strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance.
Now, here’s the key — you must put yourself on your schedule! Further, you must keep your promise to yourself and not cancel on yourself! Your ability to produce and relate to other people depends upon your own health and well being. Your number one asset is YOU. And YOU require daily maintenance. Daily theraputic exercise of 30 minutes to an hour is a very small price to pay for the enormous benefits it yields for you (sharper mind, stronger body, radiant energy). And, in my experience, the ONLY way to ensure that this happens is to plan for it. If you find yourself saying that you don’t have time to exercise daily, then first take a look at whether you actually planned for it.
Let me share with you one of my secrets. I plan theraputic exercise as my first activity every day. I start my days with vigorous deep breathing exercise, along with mental agility exercises. I imagine how I strengthen my synaptic connections (while creating new ones) in my brain as I challenge myself with mental drills. Then the vigorous deep breathing exercises push oxygenated blood deep into my tissues, strengthen my immune system, sharpen my mind, and strengthen my internal organs along with my external muscles and fascia. I do this first thing in the morning because there is always a chance that something unexpected happens during my day. If all goes well, then I can also train myself later in the day. But I know that at the very least, I get in my morning exercise. You see, I can control what time I wake up. I can control what my first activities of the day will be. And so can you.
There is no better time than now to start a good habit. Join me each Sunday in planning the up coming week, and being sure to include at least 30 minutes of theraputic exercise in each day. Habit 1 — Plan your week around theraputic exercise
Remember my vision for us — We will age together! But we will be different from previous generations. I want us to be functional centinarians, free from the chronic diseases and pains so common today. Aging is mandatory. Maintaining functional fitness and vibrant health — well, that’s optional!
If you have any questions, please do flip me an email. See you soon!
To Your Health!
Jeff Wooten, “The Body Mechanic” www.YourBodyMechanic.com
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