Did you know you use your frontal lobe every day? The frontal lobe is the part of the brain we engage when we make decisions. Everything we do, from what to eat for breakfast to studying for a test, is the result of our brain’s frontal lobe.
We need our frontal lobe to function in a healthy manner because it affects everything we do; our reasoning, decision making, and even deciding on what impulses to act on are affected by our frontal lobe. But without physical exercise, the frontal lobe ceases to work properly, resulting in what many people call brain fog. And in a world where 1 in 4 adults is insufficiently active and 80% of the adolescent population is not getting enough exercise, our sedentary lives are at risk of more than just gaining a bit of unwanted weight.
You see, everything is connected.
Many western athletes and health enthusiasts are beginning to embrace what spiritual teachers have been saying for thousands of years; everything is connected. Our body’s health is directly tied to our brain health, and consequently to our spiritual health. One of my desires is to help eliminate the limiting belief that we are only our bodies. We are so much more.
Life isn’t just made up of matter, it’s made up of what matters.
By taking care of our bodies, we help improve every part of our lives. If the idea of taking a 20-minute walk a couple days a week to help improve your mind, body, and spirit, sounds new to you, that’s okay. Part of life is about learning and discovering new things. How wonderful that exercise can improve not only how we feel physically but it can improve how we feel emotionally and help us gain a greater appreciation for ourselves and others.
Exercise Unites Us
Why not go for walks with your children, friend, or partner? Have fun keeping fit. Get and stay connected through exercise. How about getting exercise while helping out a neighbour? Why not mow your neighbour’s lawn as a surprise? Don’t think of exercise as a chore but rather as an opportunity to do something nice for someone else, connecting and having fun with those you love all while keeping your mind, body, and spirit healthy.
If you’re somebody who enjoys diving into the data of a subject, below is some science-based information to help remedy that body/mind dichotomy I was just speaking of.
Exercise and Stress
Exercise is proven to help reduce stress and anxiety. Exercise helps stop neurons in the brain from firing that are shown to produce stress (the ventral hippocampus). I’m sure we could all use a bit less stress in our lives, and perhaps the way to do that is by simply walking out your front door! The reduction of stress also helps our minds think clearer, which can help us realize the unity of all things. Taking a walk, as Rabbi Shaispecht says, “…can remind you of the vastness to which you’re connected.”
Exercise and Dementia
Just about any type of exercise that gets your heart working will reduce the risk of dementia. Hundreds of studies have been done showing that exercise helps prevent dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Exercise is also shown to improve spatial memory, which is the part of memory responsible for recording one’s environment (like how to navigate through a familiar city etc.).
Exercise and Depression
A review of 39 different studies with thousands of participants showed that exercise helps provide moderate relief for those battling depression. While not shown to completely relieve depression, the effects may be as great as starting with therapy or taking antidepressants.
Learning to Thrive
We were created to thrive, not just survive. Life is full of amazing people on amazing journeys, and exercise can be a great way for us to get connected, show and receive love, and bring us into deeper communion with the love of God.
If you’ve been feeling like you’ve been in a bit of a rut lately, I encourage you to get up and move. Every breath is a prayer of some kind, and every moment a gift – exercise is just one of the many ways we can embrace the gift of infinite love and unity that connects us all.