Everything You Do Matters

Everything you do matters. That is to say that everything has consequences (effects) — whether one knows it at the time or not. The fact that one can get out of bed — or a chair makes a difference — from not being able to do it at all — anymore. The biggest difference is being able to do one — or not being able to do any. Once you do one, then two, and how many others after that — is made possible, because you can do the one. So how one does the one, becomes the prototype for future success — because most movements are the repetition of that one movement — and that practice, makes perfect. That is the economy and efficiency of movement that shapes the body and the psyche.

Those who become the best at it, are the world champions — at whatever they do. Obviously the best at what they do, are not learning it from someone less capable than themselves — and so are essentially self-taught. as well as self-learned — and so that self-discovery and self-actualization is the transformative experience of mastering the art of being one’s best — and that is the whole point of exercise, and not just mindlessly doing what somebody else tells them they must do — often to their own detriment.

That kind of mentoring makes one resentful of everything they are doing — as though self-punishment and self-annihilation is the point. Thus the experience of pain is the gain — which later on in life extinguishes itself because of that negative reinforcement. As one gets older, aches and pain are what one is trying to cure — and not cause, because that is the default in growing older. The cessation of pain and suffering is the major objective of lifelong exercise, and in doing so, optimizes the health, functioning and well-being — and that is the purpose of exercise often lost in the misguided intents — and especially competitions with others for dubious achievements.

If one can simply reach one hundred years of life in healthy condition — with no signs of aging, then that says it all — and there is no need for further contests to determine their fitness. Very rarely does one need to prove their fitness with any arbitrary achievement. In most cases, a formidable presence and appearance is enough to deter attackers who invariably look for the most vulnerable — before engaging in combat or competition. The one who looks and acts like the winner, is usually acknowledged as such.

So at one hundred, it is not necessary to squat 500 lbs — but enough to just look like one could — and move like one can. Not too many people get there with conventional and traditional exercise strategies. So it must be something beyond that — even if one has to pioneer that knowledge themselves for all those to follow. Having observed exercise all my life, what seems to be the key to maintaining full functioning and health is the blood flow to the extremities of the body — which implies the blood flow through the rest of the body in getting there, which produces muscle growth because of optimizing those conditions that enable it — even before they are aware of bodybuilding as a goal in itself.

Many then think that it is the lifting of heavy weights that cause muscle and strength growth — but in time, actually becomes a deterrent to continued participation -- and ultimately the cause of aches and pains rather than its relief and cure. And so they stop exercising entirely — ensuring and speeding their aging deterioration.

As best as I can determine, the best exercise for maintaining the baseline health is sitting in a tripod chair and doing alternate heel raises, while simultaneously articulating the fist movement at the wrist, and turning the head from side to side — as is not practical and dangerous on a regular bicycle — but I nevertheless did on daylong rides on little trafficked country roads to restore the circulation to my hands and head. I frequently do this when I wake up at night and can’t get back to sleep immediately and this allows me to exercise silently and inobtrusively. And when one realizes that it is these subtle movements at the neck, wrists, and ankles that imply the engagement of the rest of the musculature and circulatory system, it can be done  inconspicuously anywhere, anytime, under any conditions, with or without equipment — by properly understanding the functioning of the human body — without all the commercial considerations getting in the way.

Quick and easy Complete core workout

 Quick and easy Complete core workout:

1) Lying flat on the back, legs straight, squeeze (contract) the gluteus muscle 50 times.

2) Lying flat on the back, knees bent with feet close to hips, leading with the head, move knees to one side, then back to the other side for count of 50.

3) Lying flat on the back, knees bent with feet close to hips, lift hips 50 reps -- by contracting abdominal muscles.

Develops all the muscles of the of the hip and groin region -- eliminating back pain, pot belly, hip adductor and abductor muscles (side to side).  

Recommended for first thing before getting out of bed -- or on a thick mat for comfort.

The recommended movements in the article or videos recommended traditionally and conventionally are likely to cause pain and discomfort rather than relief and optimize circulation.  Done daily, it will develop the "core" muscles so problematical for most.

The problem with most recommended "core" muscle exercises is that rather than relieving the pain that most are advised to do them for, they cause pain and discourage people from performing them -- especially because they are not getting the results promised for them -- evoking pain because they require a lot of visible movement.  The trick with strengthening the core muscles of the hip girdle, is requiring minimal movement while obtaining maximal contraction -- which is best achieved when there is no weight-bearing requirement of the extremities.

So leg and foot lifts requiring maximum movement of the extremities are not the designed strength and use of the "core" muscles of the torso but stability and strength -- produced by the compaction of these muscles rather than the lifting of the leg -- which does not even produce the greatest contraction of the core (anchoring) muscles.  Although the deadlift and squats are frequently highly recommended for building the muscles of the hip and back -- in its fullest contraction (finished) position, the gluteus muscle is always relaxed -- rather than fully and optimally contracted.  This ultimate contraction, is only possible if there is no load on the spine -- and thus the gluteus muscle can attain its fullest contraction while the spine is allowed to fully extend because there is no weight-bearing load.

As long as the thigh bone moves forward and up, the gluteus muscle cannot contract -- nor can it be fully contracted in a bone on bone lockout as the finished position of a deadlift or squat requires.  For the gluteus -- as well as the spinal erector muscles to be fully contracted, and thus optimize the blood flow to this area, the spine has to be arched as far as possible without any load precluding that range of movement.

Only then, will the gluteus achieve maximal contraction as is desired because it is the largest, most powerful contracting muscle in the body -- affecting the flow to the lower part of the body that most people find problematical -- particularly as they get older and those problems accumulate and exacerbate.  That is the awful feeling of being "cut off" at the hips -- because that essential connection is not maintained at optimal levels of functioning and development.  But the answer is not just to double-down on one's upper body exercises and ignore the lower portion of one's body -- but to restore that functioning to its proper understanding and why it frequently remains the weak link of one's body.

A little bit of the "right" thing produces miraculous results -- while any amount of the wrong thing may not only not produce the desired results, but may be the cause of the further aggravation of that problem -- even as much as it is universally recommended -- with the lack of overwhelming and convincing success.

The right thing is instantly recognizable as such -- especially if the very measure of its effectiveness is whether it produces the fullest contraction possible -- which determines the flow into and out of that area.  That contraction also shapes the muscle, and done enough times, develops the muscle-memory of that muscle to do what it has been conditioned to do -- unfailingly and efficiently.  That is the role of practice and conditioning -- to become even better at doing what is beneficial and advantageous to do.  Instead of having no idea what to do with all one's equipment and capabilities.

Understanding the Importance and Effect of Physical Exercise

Movement increases and directs blood flow. It does so by the overriding great principle of our environment — that pressure is inversely related to volume — which is to observe, that as a muscle mass contracts, the pressure within increases — and so flows into an area with lower pressure, and that is the principle that accounts for flow, or liquid dynamics. To a limited extent, that is what happens whether one realizes it or not — or even babies would not survive for long, but they invariably do — but quickly, some do it quite naturally better than others — and become healthier and more robust than others — in the struggle and quest for survival, and beyond that dominance and mastery of their environments.

The more robust individuals exhibit more, and more powerful movements, which cause their greater blood flow that enables health and growth — because movement is caused by the contraction of the muscles. That is what they are evolved to do. The best example is the function of the heart muscle — that reliably contracts and relaxes so as to provide a reliable pump for which the rest of the body can rely on -- automatically, or autonomously — so that one doesn’t have to think about it 24/7. It will reliably do what it has to do — relying on the signal it gets from the brain about its requirements — particularly the availability of oxygen that the brain is most sensitive to.

That also to some extent, is automatic — but can be enhanced by a greater flow of nutrients into it — mainly caused not by the heart working harder and faster, but by the local (voluntary) muscles contracting and increasing the flow out of that organ and tissues back towards the central organs of the body — including the heart as well as the filtering and recycling organs of the body (liver, kidneys, lungs, digestive tract, etc.) That contraction of those muscles, creates the compression of fluids out of those tissues — that upon relaxation, creates a vacuum for new fluids to flow into — by the reliable contractions of the heart and other autonomous muscles.

But the muscles we have direct, voluntary control of are the large, skeletal, voluntary muscles, which we generally refer to as exercise, and are even more empowered with the proper understanding of its basic functioning and design. Skeletal muscles always contract from the farthest point back towards the center of the body just below the sternum, that the ancient Chinese called the dantian, or anchor of the muscles along the five meridians (pathways) of human movement and expression. No matter what activity or sport, the expression is always at the head, hands and feet — even if one is not aware of those fine movements. It is usually called the “follow through,” rather than more accurately, the leading edge of that movement.

The former implies that the contraction (rotation) around those axes are an afterthought — rather than the whole point of that movement. It is like shooting a basketball — and realizing that only the proper rotation at the wrist will produce the desired accuracy and outcome — and not to rotate at the wrist, will not produce the desired effect. However, that does not prevent exercise instructors from creating movements that have no practicality in the real world — despite becoming proficient at the contrived movement. The most common of these, is to focus the movement around the larger, supporting “core” muscles rather than the ultimate expression and full rotation at the head, hands and feet.

The reason this is important is because the contraction at that focus is the extent to which the tissues are compressed and effect the flow and the evacuation of the residual fluids in those tissues, which is the inflammation and swelling associated with poor health and appearance because those fluids are retained in those tissues, and over time, kill off the neuromusculature it serves in a spiraling deterioration of function and development — generally noted as being “out of shape.” At that point, the development and appearance convey that one is not in optimal health and condition.

By then, the functioning has also declined dramatically — so that the general impression is one of failing health and inability to do what they would like to do — as an indication that one is at their prime — at whatever age and circumstances. But it is not enough simply to want to be in their best shape — to make it so, or obviously everybody would be in that condition. Far more important is simply doing all the right things that make such an outcome inevitable — by first understanding what those things are. Unfortunately, that is not how exercise is generally taught. It is usually just advised if not commanded, that one must do this and that — without any understanding or questioning of what is actually being done, and so many people are rightly turned off by that approach — and will accept any other fate but that blind obedience to the will of authoritarian personalities.

That is not a necessary requirement of such participation in healthful activities — although such instructors will insist it is — or will abandon such regimen at their first opportunity. But if one has the proper understanding of what and why one is doing, then nothing makes more sense to do — as long as they live and want to be better. At no point in life would a rational person think, “I’m done, no sense getting better — that is the way it must be,” and then lie motionless waiting for the end.

Rising to the Challenges of Daily Living

 The chief benefit of all exercise is to direct all the energy and resources to the task (challenge) at hand — and maintain that capability all one’s life. So obviously, if one does not actually exercise that capability, one doesn’t know if one has it, nor the degree to which it can be recruited — momentarily, as needed. That is not dependent on free weights, machines, or any other apparatus — but is the mastery over one’s own body and its functioning. There is nothing magical about the equipment; the major ingredient is the understanding of the challenge and the individual’s response.

Muscles are the means by which we can change to accomplish any task and objective. We do that by contracting a muscle — or relaxing it to achieve the desired effect. When any movement is studied and observed beyond the distractions, we realize that those are the essentials that keep the body functioning optimally — regardless of the activity. Weight-training and machines isolate those movements — which can be performed productively without that equipment, and is probably the breakthrough that enables people to exercise throughout their lives — by DECREASING the resistance to such movements. That is the key to exercising in longevity. Not lifting more weights, but learning to produce those contractions and relaxations — without the resistance or need to accomplish any other extraneous work.

In that way, it is similar to a lot of athletic events that require minimal apparatus — like yoga, tai chi, dance, etc., that have become ritualized in its own way — and become a hindrance to the simplicity in effecting immediate health. It doesn’t take years of study and practice to produce a muscle contraction or relaxation. That is just what muscles do. But exercise (training) makes them do it better — but the capability is always there as the nature of the organ. The user guide is another matter entirely — and unfortunately many, if not all, come into the world having no idea what to do with it — although the child prodigies of movement have a huge head start in this mastery — just as they do in every other, and that is why one is advised throughout life, to discover who they are, and what they were born to do — as they will have great advantage in doing so.

But the simplicity of exercise is the understanding that if one increases the circulation to any organ or area, that maintains its health — as a priority over organs and areas not given that priority. Everything will not develop equally well just because it is the heart’s job to pump blood equally well to every part regardless. Preference is given to what one actually does — and not all one could do, but doesn’t. And that is many things. But in rising to the challenge of one’s own existence and environment, one is shaped in that way — to be more prolific at what one actually does. So it is not enough just to wish one had those formidable capabilities, but actually practice it enough to make it so.

But then we usually get lost in the activity and the competitions surrounding it — until much later in life when we wish we just had the ability to do what we used to do so easily — but took the erroneous path of making it more cumbersome and difficult, and eventually impossible and even injurious. We are encouraged to do so by those who would sell their products with the promise to restore those capabilities — whether it still makes sense to do so or not — as one now has trouble just getting out of bed, or out of a chair — and doesn’t think those are worthy challenges to master but are now their handicaps for life.

Then instructors and therapists will come along and advise them how to make those movements more difficult — to make the simple seem easier. But that just raises the bar higher, and what is indicated, is lowering the bar, so that they can actually do it — and do it easily, effortlessly, and gracefully. And as long as they can do that, then movement is their friend, and not their struggle — but it requires that simplicity of understanding, and not making it more complex and harder.

So the simplicity of movement is that it is effected by contracting a muscle or lengthening it — and the rhythmic alternation of those states, produces the same pumping effect as the heart does unfailingly until the day one dies. As important as its role and function, the heart is still a small organ of roughly one pound — supplying blood for a 100+ body, and the best and most healthful use for all the other muscles, is to assist the heart in pumping the blood out of the extremities at the head, hands and feet where circulation is poorest — back towards the center of the body for elimination, exchange and recycling — or the body simply accumulates those waste products as the inflammation and swelling that undermines this healthful process. That is the kind of exercise one needs in the extraordinary circumstances of outer space of deepest depths of the ocean — or simply getting out of bed each day ready to take on the challenges of one’s daily living.

Exercising the Brain

 The value of all “physical” exercise is that it increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the part of the body actually exercised — by first ridding the body of accumulated toxins (inflammation) by those muscular contractions at the extremities. In a primitive healthy individual, that is an absolute requirement for survival (fitness) — because that survival is not guaranteed by others (society). Each individual has to provide wholly for themselves — because there is no 911 to call. Or by the time that help arrives, one has already perished. Those are the conditions that humans evolved in — and so those who survived, were best at doing so.

The distinctive features of the human body that place them above all the other creatures are the large brain, tool-making/using hand, and feet that allow for an upright position — so if anything, it would make the most sense to service those organs as the highest priority — because that takes care of the rest. Those are the organs one has the most control over —and can make the greatest impact — whether that is throwing a stone/spear, running, jumping, climbing, and of course, the brain directs it all. But even before that, the first task of the head, is to turn and direct one senses in the right direction. If nothing else, that tells the other — whether animal or human — that they are aware, and not just lost in their own thought — oblivious to everything happening around them.

Even predators notice this difference — and are likely to go after the prey most unaware of their presence than take on the fully attentive individual anticipating their every move. But it is not just enough to possess those capabilities — because one has to actually exercise them to do any good. That means turning one’s head to see whether a car is coming towards them — and it is not enough just to know that they shouldn’t be. That is true whether one is in a car or on a bike — and more important than how fast one’s heart is beating. That is automatic — but whether one turns his head to know that the car is coming and letting the car know that also in that movement — is a critically important accomplishment.

That frequently is the difference between life and death — and so it is a very important movement to practice and cultivate — and not just head fixed straight ahead thinking one can beat any other to that spot faster — if one simply ignores all else. So those head movements, are still critically important skills to ensure the optimal functioning of the brain and body — but contemporary lifestyles often take for granted as unnecessary or makes convenient not to.

Most people’s idea of “exercising the brain” therefore, consists of doing meaningless crossword puzzles or other such extraneous brain games — while ignoring the obvious and very visible fact that their neck muscles are atrophying — in what is called the “turkey neck,” or the “pencil neck” — despite having impressive biceps and “six-pack” abdominal development. That won’t prevent them from suffering the consequences of suboptimal blood flow to the brain — which is the whole point of CPR and basic first aid. Once the brain is gone, it doesn’t matter how many more years the heart can continue to function normally. And that is a major concern and problem in societies today.

In advanced ages surely, but less recognized, is that lack of optimal functioning and blood flow to the brain at any age and condition. I’ve even heard people who should know better, say that the head should not move — nor should one increase the blood flow to the brain — and then, that it makes no difference. Yet they will claim that we have to exercise the brain just like any other muscle — but without movement. If we did exercises for the muscles without movement, the results would predictably be nonproductive and obviously absurd. That lack of obvious movement is the very reason for their lack of muscular development and overall poor condition — because it is the contraction along with the alternating relaxation of the muscles in use, that actuates the flow — and not merely the wishing it would (mental exercise).

Why are the problematical parts of the body (the extremities) not regarded as the proof of the effectiveness of exercise (optimizing blood flow) — but rather, considered the exceptions to the rule for robust health? It should be obvious that that is how one would go about it — if selling machines and supplements were not the primary considerations. Does one really need to make the heart work harder and faster — or would it be better if the hands, feet and head movements were articulated to ensure optimal functioning of those organs as the highest priority and that would empower the rest — but not vice-versa.

That is to say that empowering the bicep first, would not lead to deciding that a better functioning brain would be desirable, but in empowering the brain first, it might decide that a stronger bicep might be advantageous — but not vice-versa. That is the hierarchy of human development — and critical path for determining the ultimate success of that individual. Everything else, is diverting energy and resources from this important work of the body — whether one is 70 or 7. That’s why any body fails — this failure to distinguish the significant from the diversions and distractions of contemporary life.

Get Rid of the Inflammation

Another word for "inflammation" is "swelling" -- which is the accumulation of toxins/waste products in the tissues -- which in the normally healthy body is directed back towards the filtering and purifying organs at the center of the body -- the liver, kidneys, lungs, etc., where it is eliminated and exchanged for fresh nutrients that keep the body alive and even growing.  That process can be impeded in many different ways -- including not eating the necessary nutrients, shallow or ineffective breathing, not producing the necessary muscular contractions that push those fluids (blood and lymphatic fluid) out of the tissues and back towards the center of the body for that recycling, etc.

Those are the conditions humans have evolved in for millions of years -- along with many other life forms.  Until very recently, such movements were required for the very survival of each individual, and favored the most productive in that manner.  Those who were incapable of rising to those occasions with the proper responses perished in those early days of survival.  The "fit" were those who survived.

But as human societies predominated, many more less abled could survive -- and other talents and abilities could flourish -- with even greater survival advantage.  That would be the emergence of strategic thinkers -- who could manage primitive societies into greater civilizations beyond just conquering the other tribe.  Larger synergies gave rise to cities that planned for larger populations to live in relative peace, harmony and cooperation -- we commonly call "teamwork" -- a vast improvement over the winner take all that could be easily overcome by many working in concert.

But individually, the individual human is also designed that way -- to work in concert with all the other parts of the organism -- and not one in primacy over all the others.  Even the brain is smart enough to know it cannot do it alone -- but wants all the parts working in synchrony --  doing the best it can to do what it has to do.  That is what Nature also intended -- and has honed to what it is today.

But sometimes things go out of whack -- and we witness or experience injury, disease and even death -- and that becomes the major preoccupation and challenge of our lives.  Thus many have risen to those challenges because their very existence depended on it -- in the many remarkable transformations that become legendary.  The proverbial "98 lb. weakling" who becomes the World's Strongest Man -- because if he didn't, he wouldn't be here today, or the child with rheumatoid arthritis who doctors pronounced would be crippled as an adult.

They refused to take those verdicts lying down but asked themselves what had they got to lose by continuing on their present path?  Only that certain fate that awaited them, so rejecting that, tried everything until something worked -- and not simply settle for a better explanation of why it wasn't working.  That is the common fallacy of most self-improvement regimens -- that they just have a fancier explanation for why things don't work, rather than a simple and obvious manifestation of what does work -- as self-evident truth.  That is the obvious truth of the present moment -- and must be proven in each subsequent moment rather than what so-called experts say -- and have no way of proving in this, or any other time in life and circumstances.

What most fail to observe is that muscle contractions compress the fluids in the tissues back towards the center -- which steady state muscular states do not.  That is the significance of alternating full contractions with full relaxations -- that mimic the heart movement in pumping blood out to the rest of the body.  The weakness of circulation is that there is no similar pump at the extremities pumping the fluids back towards the center -- which greatly optimizes the circulation in the body -- particularly in those areas that inflammation (swelling) is the problem.

The first resort is not medications to do so, but activating the muscle very deliberately to do so -- as the best thing one can do -- if that is their problem.  And if that is not a problem anymore, the body will have those conditions in which it can optimize its own health -- including for producing greater muscle growth and functioning.  That is the reason exercise works -- and even produces transformative miracles for those not doing it expressly for that reason.  They are simply doing the right things -- and Nature takes care of the rest.  That's how simple and direct life is.

The simplest explanation is the best -- and not the most complicated and complex.  That may win prizes at academic institutions but is not how the world works.  However, in this age of inflated egos and credentials, that's how some people think makes the world go around -- all that hot air creating a vacuum causing the world to spin.

Modern contemporary life doesn't require a lot of personal physical effort to sustain life anymore -- and as a result, many will manifest those shapes and conditions of unexercised specimens -- rather than be fully functional human beings capable of doing what they have to do.  If one hasn't done so before, there's no reason to believe one can do it -- until they actually try.  Many presume they just have those capabilities whether they've actually ever tried to put themselves in those positions -- and the body was not made not to work, but to actually work.

But one does not realize that until one actually finds that out -- by attempting to do so.  And if that first attempt is nowhere close (predictably), then one tries again -- and again -- until they have mastered the movement to achieve precisely the outcome they want with reasonable reliability.  A few will decide they wish to become the best at it -- and that is the basis for sport and competitive activities.  But that is not the driving force behind most practice to improve.  Their fundamental health may be much more urgent and important -- as a lifelong practice.  They want to be masters of their own life and health, and not just win prizes for their 15 minutes of fame and glory -- and not care what happens beyond that.

The challenge of these times is not just how long one can live, but the quality of that lifespan.  If that is good throughout, then one is prepared to go at one's best -- and the rest is beyond their control.  But what they can control, they are their own masters at -- and that is the organizational and driving force of their lives.  That is what they are -- and do -- all their lives, no matter how long.  That's also how they go out.

They don't sweat the small stuff.

Effective Exercise Has to Be Very Specific and Directed

 The value of movement and exercise is that it directs the body to where the effort and resources need to go -- to achieve maximum results.  That means if one needs to throw a projectile at a specific target, it won't do just to run off somewhere else --no matter how far and long.  It won't accomplish the task at hand.  Likewise, if one wants to condition the midsection to be as fit as possible, one has to actually engage and activate those muscles and movements -- and not do everything else but that.  Yet that is the muddled thinking used by most -- and particularly the "experts" -- thinking that if they do enough random movements, something might work -- and many waste their whole lives that way.

That is the unfortunate consequence of not being able to "discriminate" anything important and significant -- from every other thing.  And that is what a scientist does -- or any person who becomes proficient in anything.  They have to differentiate which among the many considerations -- is most important, and not that everything is equally important -- because there is not enough time and life in the world to pursue everything randomly.

That is true whether they are participating in athletics, personal financial management, rocket science, brain surgery, etc.  You have to exclude most things, to focus one's energies and resources on what one thinks is most important -- even if it means learning otherwise.  Then one can move on -- and higher because one is no longer consuming all their time and energy on everything -- equally.  So one must have this fundamental understanding of reality to be successful at understanding anything particular and specific -- unless of course, they want to be successful at wasting as much time and resources (their life) as an ideal in itself.

We recognize such people as being dysfunctional -- and thus wholly out of touch with reality -- as their objective, and it is futile to argue with that.  They don't want to be led to greater clarity and  understanding -- but wish to drag as many down with them as possible, and so the wise, avoid them as much as possible.  That's not entirely difficult to do because they overrun predictable turf -- that most but the police and emergency responders learn to avoid.   That is not their job to have to deal with -- at 4 am in the worst part of town -- where most of these bizarre events occur.

However given enough tolerance, it soon spreads to every other aspect of our lives.  One thinks that it is enough just to do anything -- and even to waste the most time, energy and resources -- as the "secret sauce" to life, success and prosperity -- because unfortunately these days, nobody teaches them any other -- and they are merely encouraged to "let it all hang out."  And so many get into trouble, and have no way of getting out -- but to do "more of the same."  Predictably, it doesn't end well -- but way before the final outcome, one can see the signs that all is not well, but are powerless to do anything about -- because they run out of time to get it right.

And so that is the imperative to get it right -- by practicing and perfecting it, and not just thinking that if one shoots enough balls, one is bound to go in.  As absurd as it sounds (hopefully), that is the way many think about exercise -- that it is enough just to burn as many calories as possible or to raise the heart beat as many as possible -- rather than to achieve a specific -- which is the whole purpose of any living being -- to optimize its chances for survival.  The health of any individual, is the best predictor of those prospects -- and why it is the primary imperative of every living entity.

Those who live closer to the edge for survival are required to be fitter to rise to those challenges -- much in the manner of more primitive times.  They literally have to be "looking over their shoulder -- while those in more comfortable environments, may never have to move their heads at all -- and even their "fitness" activities, do not require any movement at these critical junctures -- which is the movement at the head, hands and feet -- where it is universally recognized as the weakness of the body because circulation is poorest and even nonexistent -- to the point where they even have to be amputated -- but usually before then, have become immobilized, and merely repositories of toxic waste products and inflammation.

And so the obvious good of any exercise, would be to address those vulnerabilities -- and even turn them into one's strengths -- in enhancing the circulatory effectiveness by creating muscular pumps at the extremities to rid these impurities -- and in that process, creating the space to accept life-giving new nutrients.  There is only so much space in the body -- particularly after one reaches full growth so that one has to get rid of the old, weak, diseased cells to make room for sustained health and even growth.

That part of life hasn't been figured out successfully -- and so we have the inevitable age-old problems of deteriorating conditions impairing the quality of life and living.  Some think it requires infinitely more funding to discover -- while many more are working on such discoveries in their own lives.  Many more discoveries will undoubtedly be made with many more people working on it -- rather than just the ones claiming exclusive jurisdiction of the territory -- since everybody gets older, and should not be precluded from finding out what works in their own lives -- especially when the remedies of the experts have been expensive failures. 

To my mind, the obvious markers of the condition of any individual, is the form and function of the neck, forearms, and lower leg muscles -- that modern lifestyles no longer require to engage and activate -- unless one deliberately does so.  That is not a difficult thing to do -- but is the easiest exercise and movements anyone can do -- if they just think about it, and exercise that understanding and possibility -- even while lying in bed, sitting, or standing.  That's where the human body fails -- and most people, even the "experts," think nothing can be done about it.  But if one just does that -- that ensures the body is firing on all cylinders because nothing else is possible.  You have to go through the rest of the body to activate it at its furthest extremities -- but not vice-versa if all one thinks is necessary is to make the heart alone work harder.  That paradigm obviously doesn't work.