The Intelligent Exercise of the Human Body

 The Intelligent Exercise of the Human Body

The distinctive features that make the human being the ultimate achievement of evolution, is the large brain, tool-using hands, and feet that make upright posture and locomotion possible. So it would make a lot of sense that the most practical and productive development of those faculties would be the preferred conditioning program — rather than the development of what is common to all life forms, which is the heart similar to most other species.

Thus, that is not the distinguishing feature, nor does it have to be worked any harder and faster — because its value is that it works reliably as its greatest function — automatically. That’s why the heart is only a one pound organ in humans, rather than 30% of the body weight — as in the well-muscled human. The heart can only do one thing — while the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the human body can do whatever one wants it to do. That may include nothing at all — which is the problem for many. On the other hand, the heart as a muscle, does not have that option, but must always work until the day one dies — unfailingly.

Realizing that, the thoughtful person wishing to maximize their effectiveness, would choose to do what is not automatic but lacking, as their greatest contribution to increasing their productivity, functioning, overall health and proficiency. That is what is sorely lacking — and not what has been provided for in all living beings — no matter what. That is to note that we do not need to create “gravity” because it is simply a fact of life in our environment — whether we realize this or not. Many people don’t, and can live healthy and productive lives — just like the air we breathe.

We don’t first have to create the right mixture of gases that compose the air we breathe. We just have to access it as best we can — but a few will try to perfect the science of that functioning to gain an advantage — if it makes a difference. In most things, if a tool does the job, it doesn’t have to be a precision instrument made of the best materials. And often, the cheapest thing that can do the job, is the best money can buy — and beyond that, the rest may be impressive to others, but conveys no further advantage — for all practical purposes.

That is the first law of survival — if it works — regardless of the fancy explanations of why it does, or worse, why it is not working — but they are the “experts” in the field. They know all the things that do not work. Thus they claim, they need more funding to maintain that status quo — of them in charge, and to keep all others out of it. That kind of thinking is endemic to all activity and spheres of influence — but the trick is to distinguish that and not get caught up in those distractions that can consume a lifetime. And so many will conclude that it doesn’t make a difference — because they faithfully did all the things that did not work.

That is usually evident from the very start — but many insist one has to give it time — like a few years to exhibit those results, because it does not work. It is like asking a class of grade schoolers if they know how to “make a muscle,” and every arm in class will bend In the appropriate manner to make their biceps contract. That’s how easy it is — to make a muscle — and that simplicity and directness should not be complicated by elaborate explanations paraphrasing what researchers far away know exclusively — but have yet to prove in their own lives and being.

It is not because of age or lack of equipment and space that are the barriers — but simply the lack of the awareness of their own doing — or lack of it. The simple exercise that always works, is simply to turn one’s head as far to the left or right as one can go — and find out what is possible and the limit of that range of movement. In that very movement, the muscle of the neck will contract to enable that movement — as surely and demonstratively as the grade schoolers contracting their biceps. But for all intents and purposes, turning their heads is much more valuable as that movement affects the circulation to the head and brain — which most exercise practitioners just ignore as not being very important — because they think the head, hands and feet should be immobilized to enable their exercise. That kind of exercise is the wrong kind of exercise specifically for that reason — in that it precludes the movement where it is most important to move — and make a muscle because the circulation has been enabled by that movement.

That is the very reason the human body deteriorates prematurely and very visibly — at the sites of the neck, hands and feet — before all else, but is also the easiest thing to rectify — because it is simply a rotation around the furthest axis of the human body — which implies all else, but not vice-versa. The “core” muscles don’t need to be moved because their major function is stability and support — for the fine movements that occur at the extremities — whether that it shooting a basketball, hitting a ball with a bat or racket, painting a picture, playing an instrument, running, jumping, walking, etc.

As such, only enough room to move the head, the hands, the feet, is all that is required to optimize the circulatory flow throughout the body — rather than move or jump over mountains — to achieve the beneficial effects of exercise in any environment one feels most comfortable in, and has the inspiration and opportunity to do. That’s how easy, convenient, and accessible it can be — unless one insists that it has to be otherwise. Then it becomes an excuse not to do it.

The Importance of Exercise

 Practice (exercise) makes one better — immediately and instantly. One doesn’t have to wait a year or six months to see results. The effect is immediate — and then if maintained over many days, weeks, months, years, .builds a reserve that allows for growth and improvement. But it always begin remedially, rehabilitatively, and restoratively. That is to say that one must go from 0 to 100 — and not start from 99 to 100. The magnitude and effect of change is much greater starting from 0 — than it is starting at 99 — and it is change that is the desired ability, and effect that transforms the body.

And that is the categorical imperative of every living being — to change as required to improve their survival chances, and beyond that, to begin at a higher base each time — and not simply repeat what they’ve always done before, and lose even that. That is how most think of exercise: retaining what little ability they have — rather than increasing those capabilities significantly and dramatically. Generally, that is what competitive athletes do — and what motivates many until they realize they can no longer improve by those metrics — and cut back, and in many cases, cut out those activities altogether — which makes them susceptible to the deteriorating forces once again — because one is no longer doing what made them healthy and proficient anymore.

While the brain may wish that it can sustain those gains without the actual exercise of it anymore, those memories and desires are insufficient to actually produce the forces and conditions that make it so. That can happen at any point in life — but is particularly the problem of the aging athlete who can no longer sustain the activities they were once proficient at — especially if they believe that what was the use and value if they weren’t recognized at Number 1 at it. At that point, many just abandon all efforts to depair and depression — even to nominally maintain their health and functioning at a rudimentary level.

For every individual, that is the base level from which they start — and not the highest level they once achieved, but is only a foregone memory anymore. It’s not that the awards and trophies are so important — but that one hasn’t replaced those motivators to align more closely to their present capabilities and challenges — which now, are much more meaningful. Most people will not be Number 1 at what they do— but go on In life anyway, because it beats the alternative — which is just sitting around doing nothing and getting worse until the end. But if they really get into what they’re doing, that is what matters, and makes a difference — and they don’t need the awards, trophies, and approbation of others to keep on doing what they know is the best they can do — and improving at that.

So it doesn’t matter if one day (or every day for that matter) they wake up and feel they cannot move at all without great pain and discomfort — if that is where they have to start. That is simply their challenge for the day — and what they have to deal with and overcome. While not Mt. Everest, it is uniquely their own mountain to climb — and all that matters. Then it doesn’t matter what the obstacle or circumstances, one simply finds or discovers a way surmount those challenges and difficulties.

A good place to begin is just taking inventory of what is working — and begin with that — and not the insistence that one must run a marathon at 4am in city streets — or some other arbitrary and preposterous criterion of maintaining for the rest of their life — no matter what. In fact, true “fitness” might even determine that’s not a good idea even if one could. Meanwhile, lying in bed wondering if one will ever get up and move again, the most important functioning is to see if the head can still move — as the singular most important organ that has to be functioning for life to be meaningful. Many misinformed people think you cannot move the head — or shouldn’t, when movement is what enhances the blood flow or circulation to any area of the body. That is the significance and importance of movement in any human being — that by the alternation of the contraction and relaxation of the muscles that provide that full range movement, it determines the blood flow out of, and into that area.

That is the function of muscle contraction — that with that action, pushes the fluids (blood) back towards the heart — and upon relaxation (expansion) draws in new nutrients to those vacated spaces — because the heart which is a one pound organ, is always and automatically pumping. That is the given we are working with — and not that we have to deliberately and consciously get the heart pumping — or it won’t. The skeletal, or voluntary muscles, are another matter entirely — and most people have it reversed in their thinking. They think the voluntary muscles are operating always and automatically — while it is the heart that must be told to operate, and hence, the measure of the effectiveness of exercise and movement.

This misunderstanding is entirely wrong — but the doctors and researchers have learned what they know about exercise from the same PE instructors we all had — and even most self-proclaimed experts and researchers on this topic, were susceptible to that same kind of conditioning of that manner of thinking. That has been the problem — and not the solution, and why it spectacularly fails in later life — when most need it most to succeed — as the critical factor of their continued existence. And as such, exercise is more important and impactful at this stage of life than when they were younger — but learn too late, that what they thought they knew, doesn’t work — and think they have run out of time to find out.

But fortunately, we do not have to recreate the wheel. We simply have to realize that we have mistaken the effect for the cause — and it is the head that directs the heart, and not the heart that directs the head, or any other movement producing blood flow (circulation), and optimizing that circulation, is what keeps the body supremely healthy and well-functioning.

It Simply Works

 When you think about it, micro workouts throughout the day — as one has the time and inspiration for it, is more likely to be the more natural and productive way to exercise and maintain one’s health and fitness — because it is done as needed, and has the opportunity for it — than as a rigid program of requirements regardless of how one feels — in the moment. Then one is likely to get “out of synch” with the need and appropriateness of activity and movements — apart from the actual realities and challenges (demands) of the moment — and in that way, exercise becomes an arbitrary obligation regardless of the realities and needs — rather than the answer to them — as required.

That is the meaning of “listening to one’s own body (and senses),” rather than just following a program that may not work for some — but think they must do regardless of the outcomes (results). The outcomes are what is important — and not the inputs, or good intentions — without any feedback in reality. That is because a lot of people these days learn only what other people tell them is the truth, rather than finding out that truth for themselves — in their own experience and lives, and that is entirely the truth for themselves, and not the “theoretical/academic average” — that poor students and instructors think is the ultimate truth of the matter — regardless of their own results.

It is their own results that matter — and from that, one might extrapolate a greater universal application — but if it is not working for one(self), one has to look elsewhere, and try something else until it works — and that will be the truth of the matter, and not what everyone says, but nobody has actually seen any results from doing so. Before one asks anyone else, one can test out an idea themselves — to get a baseline understanding of what is involved, and then enlarge the perspective and understanding by asking others what their own experience and results have been — and process all the answers into a greater understanding and meaning.

Obtaining 30 minutes of deliberate and focused daily exercise is easily possible anyway one can get it. It doesn’t have to be constrained with many rules that make it nearly impossible to achieve. That seems to be what a lot of people insist exercise must be — that makes it an exercise of the will to overcome the impossible — rather than making it as possible for themselves all their lives. There is no rule against that. Movements are frequently hard enough, and so the exercise is to make them as easy and effortless as possible. Obviously the best conditions and circumstances to practice this, is upon first awakening from a prolonged inactivity (rest), and get one’s moving parts moving again — without the aches and pains that accumulate and compound with life. This is actually the best time to exercise — in moving from zero to normal operating conditions — because such movement accelerates the movement of the two major fluids of the body — the blood, and the synovial fluid (mucus) — which is the lubricant for all movement in the body.

That is the role and importance of the mucus and mucus membranes — throughout the body. Without it, food would not pass through the digestive tract, air would not pass through the respiratory tract, etc. And movements properly activated, cause the contraction of the muscles that exaggerate this flow back towards the central, purifying and recycling organs of the body — which if never moved out of the tissues, result in the accumulations we know as inflammation and swelling — which are the precursors of all disease. If we could flush these toxins out effectively, then we’d be self-perpetuating healthy beings — which is the natural design of all living beings. And in clearing the space, we make room for new nutrients to enter into those spaces (tissues) — because there is not unlimited space to store as much junk — just because we can. At some point, the body becomes toxic — and then tissues and organs start breaking down in the various neuropathies. Then things don’t work as well as they used to — and keeps getting worse — unless this course is corrected.

That could be as little as a minute of concentrated movement to restore that full functioning again — as in the case of a leg or arm going to sleep (numb), and being revived with a minute (50 repetitions) of a simple movement around one joint (axis) — to start up the circulation again. Usually, that already makes a difference — and can be repeated a few times throughout the day — without fear of harm, or further injury and damage. In fact, that is the cure — and should be the basis of any exercise program — first for rehabilitation and restoration, and in that process, are the seeds for continued progress, growth and development.

Too many people put the cart before the horse — and want to win the Kentucky Derby or the Mr. Olympia title before just to get healthy and whole again — and let the body take its natural course from there. That is the process that gets one there — and not how ambitious or desirous one is of getting to the top — even sacrificing their health and life to do so. That is the wrong way to go about it. But if one is simply and humbly focused on finding out what works for them — they will go as far as they pursue it, and have it last their entire lifetime — which is the new benchmark of possibility for this day and age.

Increasingly many are coming around to that realization of this new paradigm for fitness. Why not all one’s life, and not just while one is young — and then revert back to the traditional paradigm of unrelenting decline and deterioration? Obviously that requires a different way than the one that hasn’t worked before. One knows by now that High Intensity workouts have to be brief and infrequent, but does that mean that Low Intensity workouts can be sustained and prolonged throughout one’s lifetime? But it also can’t be nothing. Yet it has to be the easiest movements possible.

Rather than handling the heaviest weights, it would be maximally effective with the lightest weights possible — and that is the movements at the head, hands and feet — that initiate those contractions at the farthest extremities of the body — to do the most good. It is a well-known truism that the greatest predictor of future health and vitality is the functioning of the head, hands and feet — as what must be exercised as the priority to health and longevity, and can easily be done anywhere, under any circumstances, if one can just spare a minute from their daily lives. There doesn’t have to be an upper limit on how frequently it can be done — to good effect. That is the simplicity and genius of the micro workout. Anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances. It simply works.

Beyond Effort

 “Aerobics” means with breathing as the essential focus of one’s movement. That is to say that all the other movements and activities of the body are synchronized to the breathing contraction and relaxation — rather than as many think, the breathing has to catch up to their activity — and so they commonly run out of breath, and the body is forced to stop. That is what one doesn’t want happening at the most critical moments in life — because that is frequently the difference between life and death. One has to know at any moment, what reserves and capacities one can reliably access — and not that one could fail at any time, moment, and circumstances. Obviously, that will not do — and serve their purposes very well — which is why we condition ourselves to meet the challenges of every moment of our lives — to be prepared for most things we normally encounter in our lives.

One of the first things a person does to become a world champion athlete or attempt any monumental undertaking in their lives — is to get their breathing under control, and well-known to them — rather than as many novices do, think nothing about it — and place it last in the scheme of their concerns. Thus, they will always run out of breath — and fail ultimately because of that — not for the lack of air around them, but because they are not managing that resource effectively. That is why a lot of physical as well as mental disciplines place the control of breathing as their highest priority — and not the last thing one should concern themselves with — if they ever get around to it at all.

In the early 20th century, exercise was largely about breathing and posture — which then morphed into muscle control and early bodybuilding — of which it was noted that the most transformative exercises was alternating the breathing squat with the breathing pullover — and was promoted by the popular physical culture magazines of its time as the foundational exercises for subsequent bodybuilding. Its earliest practitioners were not so much intent on gaining muscle — as it was that that was the astounding result of just doing those exercises to begin every workout. Many of those guys actually took up exercise as the minimum they could do — often with the lightest weights possible.

In fact, the person often regarded as the father of modern bodybuilding, Eugen Sandow, was famous for promoting his exercise routines using 5 lb dumbbells for 50–100 repetitions. But he also had a strong man act in which he lifted record poundages for his time. But he was not insistent that that was what one had to do — to be in good shape. The 5 lb dumbbells was what got him there. And beyond that, he was a master of muscle control — which is largely the understanding of how the muscle works and changes — regardless of equipment and venue.

The equipment doesn’t make the muscle work; the muscle makes the equipment work. That varies according to how well one knows the action of any single movement around one axis of movement (or rotation) — because all the muscles work in that same manner once its basic action is understood. Unfortunately, most people don’t bother with that simple, basic understanding — and so most of their movements are of a random sort — thinking that any motion is as good as any other, because their whole understanding is to waste as much energy as possible in everything they do. That’s why some people become very good at what they do — while many others have no idea of what they are doing, and could care less.

Those are the people who become unsuccessful exercisers — and are indifferent or hate what they do, because none of it makes any sense at all — and they are just wasting their time — not that they have anything more important to do. For surely, getting the understanding of exercise right, is the most important thing they can do — and get right, because it makes the most difference in their quality of life. That’s why exercise is revered in many cultures and traditions throughout history and survival. Properly done, it makes the biggest difference in the quality of one’s life -- and its many outcomes.

Undoubtedly the most important movement in one’s life is the simplicity of breathing. As a volume expands, the pressure drops. As a volume contracts, the pressure increases. That is the physics of movement — and not gravity. A high pressure will move into a lesser pressure. No exercise does that more purposely and effectively than the lying pullover on a bench — expanding the rib cage (volume) and contracting it was well. If one does no other exercise (movement), that would be the best one to do.

Arthur Jones recognized this and made it his prototype Nautilus machine. His second was the Hip and Back machine — and then he could have stopped there. That would have produced 90% of the results — with truly minimal effort — particularly if one did 50–100 repetitions of each with a resistance that made that possible. The muscle didn’t have to fail to make the movement productive; doing the movement itself — with nominal resistance, would have been the right movement to ensure impressive muscular development — whether one wanted it or not. He didn’t have to create all those other machines. The singular upper body movement, and the singular lower body movement, was all that was needed — to get into shape and maintain it all one’s life — without the strain and effort that people thought was necessary in exercise — because that is the way they have been conditioned to think and reinforce.

It’s never been thought that exercise doesn’t need to be difficult and hard — and that the better way, is actually the intelligent way — which can be sustained without the difficulties self-imposed. That was the step beyond — that he never quite achieved. How does one go beyond effort?

Doing the Right Thing(s)

 The glutes, hamstrings, lower back, are all contracted maximally when the thigh bone (femur) moves backwards out of line with the torso, and if the head moves down simultaneously, the abdominal muscles are contracted maximally as well — disputing the notion that muscles work antagonistically — than as is more often the case, complementarily, or synergistically.

The obvious case in point is the contraction of the biceps of the arm. That contraction of the biceps does not produce a relaxation of the triceps — but requires the triceps to be maximally contracted as well. And so It is the case that when the back muscles are maximally contracted, the abdominal (front torso) must be maximally contracted simultaneously — or the maximum contraction in one direction with the complete relaxation of the stabilizing muscles in the other direction, would pose great risk to the spinal column — which has structural strength and integrity by equalizing the pressures to these vulnerabilities in all directions.

That is to note that if one anticipates absorbing a blow to the midsection, one would not simply contract the front abdominal muscles, but all the muscles surrounding the midsection simultaneously for maximum structural strength — which then gets dissipated through all the other muscles of the body. That is one of the greatest reasons for older people to maintain maximum muscularity throughout life — not because they can hit another harder, but they can absorb the blows from any other effectively and efficiently so as to render themselves impervious to those injuries — including the inevitable and dreaded falls — which are more likely than finding themselves in a fist fight.

Muscular people bounce right up — or lie there briefly thinking if everything is still responsive and in working order — and slowly are on their way again. Muscles are not only decorative but highly functional — for many different reasons this way. So while many will think what is the point of developing the gluteus muscle — the fact that it is the largest muscle of the body and likely to remain so the older one gets, probably serves an evolutionary survival purpose — in padding and protecting the well-recognized fragility of the hip structures that have served as a reliable indicator of survival in elderly populations.

In younger people in their most prolific years, the dancers, gymnasts, ice skaters, are probably most notable for their outstanding ranges of motion — by which they awe the competition and judges with their ability to easily move their legs back and even grab their foot above their heads. But most people are not built that way — so moving the leg back even slightly out of line with the torso is likely to produce a maximal muscle contraction and development — and can even be done lying down on one’s side in comfort. In this respect, lying on one’s back or stomach is more problematical because of the pressures against the breathing muscles of the lower torso — when a heavy weight is employed in the traditional machines designed for that purpose.

However, as I’ve frequently pointed out before, maximum muscular contraction is more a function of the range of movement — than weight used in a limited (unchanging) range of movement — with the weight often acting as an impediment to the expression (articulation) of the muscular states from fullest relaxation to fullest contraction. That is primarily a function of knowing in which position the muscle is relaxed and contracted — and not of the resistance and effort of moving from one to the other. It’s like a light switch: it doesn’t matter how much resistance or effort is required to get from the “off” position to the “on” position. What matters is whether it is fully on or fully off — often being the exact same motion. That is the “digital” world of reality.

That is the pumping effect we are trying to achieve — in developing any muscle. If the muscle is not articulating the fullest flow (circulation), then no amount of doing that movement with any amount of weight and resistance will produce the desired effects. No matter how much weight one stands up straight with in the squat or deadlift, the gluteus muscle will remain relaxed — because it requires the fenur to be moving back out of line with the torso to contract, and contract strongly. That is directing the flow to and from any muscle — producing the desired function, form and development (health).

If one does the wrong movement that doesn’t achieve those changes of muscular states, it doesn’t matter how much weight and resistance one uses — though admittedly, one is using more weight and resistance. But if one simply wants the results — without the impediments to it — which is the underlying question of every inquiry, then one has to examine what movement produces those changes — regardless of weight, resistance, repetitions and all the other irrelevant considerations — because time is running out on everybody — and that is why we are exercising as a lifelong practice.

How Much Rest is Enough?

 As a general rule, the more one rests, the less they do. That is true not only in working out, but at work, play, and any other activities. As far as I have observed, the most out of shape people, are those who do very little — if anything at all. Such people obviously don’t need more rest — while world-class athletes, can benefit from as much rest as they need — before their inner clock compels them to make another attempt. But then, one need not tell the world-champion in that event what more or less they should be doing, because their distinction tells it all.

However, for those in the poorest health and condition, any strategy that gets them in motion and keeps them in motion, is the much better strategy — until they become the world champion at whatever they want to be good at. Among the less proficient, the better advice is to practice until one becomes good at what one is doing, and the rest and inactivity are what they are already good at, and don’t need more practice. They need to practice what they seldom do — and not rest up over generously from the little they already do.

That is the obvious reason most people who workout in gyms or any other venue, don’t get any, or much results: they are resting too much — thinking that is the major part of the program they like to do, and so they double up on that, rather than the hard part. Some justify that by making the hard part harder, rather than making the hard part easier — so that people actually like doing them — instead of not doing it as much as possible — and getting that result.

In the 1960s, two forms of exercise became popular: one promoting what is today called “High-intensity (interval) training,” and the other, “aerobics” or “cardio” training — and were promoted as though they are two different things, rather than two-sides of the same thing — resulting in superior health and outcomes. Back then, high-intensity training meant higher levels of effort that couldn’t be sustained for more than a minute — or less. The 100 yard sprint is the best example of this, while a marathon run would be an example of the ultimate cardio event. Same activity (running) — but conducted at levels that could be sustained by vastly different durations.

As most have observed, marathoners are usually ultrathin people not carrying excessive muscle mass, while strength athletes carry as much weight as their weight-class will allow. The lesson here is that if one’s primary goal is to lose and control weight, they should be actually exercising most of their workout time — rather than resting 95% of the time — presumably to recover from their 10 second at maximum effort. Even the world champion at that event will insist on at least 10 minutes of rest before their next heat.

The problem lies with people used to putting out little effort and then taking overly long rest breaks. That is likely to be your novice exerciser — not strong enough to exert themselves requiring much if any time for recovery. Such people don’t need maximum rest to recover from minimal efforts. They just need the practice — or “reps” until they become much more proficient at their movements to become serious threats to their own well-being and safety. That is a danger posed in a “non-contact injury,” which become the majority of injuries among the aging and old — so that they give up on competitive events because they recognize that they are their own greatest risk to their well-being and continued success.

But rather than maintaining or increasing those loads, the better strategy is to lower the intensity so that it can be sustained for the proper amount of time — rather than resting to compensate for those overloads. The obvious would be using minimal resistance and eliminating the rest entirely — which then makes resistance training cardio as well, and cardio, muscle building — to converge as the one thing that builds strength as well as endurance.

That is to say that for the majority of those exercising for complete and comprehensive health benefits, they should do high reps of different movements while eliminating the rest periods entirely. Low reps and overly long rest between, won’t get one into the shape one wants to be in.

Being Well-grounded

The extremities of the feet, hands and head (face and brain) are the leading indicators of the general health and functioning of the body — so much so that that is how we recognize individuals apart from every other. Those are also the most visible and obvious parts of every body — more than we could identify one’s person’s heart from another, shoulder or hip, etc.

They are also the distinctively expressive organs of the human body. When we note that an individual is remarkably animated (vibrant, lively) it is because of those movements at the face, hands and feet — rather than how high or far they jump, fast they run, or how much they lift. And in fact, specialists in such activities will adopt a rather stoic expression throughout to conserve their energy only to the essential required for efficiency and economy of their "movement."

Apart from such narrow and constrained competitions though, the human is at its best being ready and able to express whatever movements might be required by their versatility afforded by their face (communication), hands (tool using and making), and feet (leveraging one’s bodyweight against the ground). Other animals are much more specialized in what they can do — and why they do it so well. But the human being (organism) has the capacity to do many things — because of the large brain capacity that enables and empowers it. Humans seem to be good at whatever they decide they want to become good at.

One of the earliest forms of human expression and distinction in addition to physical competition, was simply dance — that exhibited fine motor coordination in addition to the gross motor coordination of traditional athletics. Other similar manifestations were painting (art) and music (dexterity) — in the broader category of culture — those shared values it was agreed upon that were desirable qualities to cultivate and improve — for long-forgotten reasons.

Often, people didn’t know why, but recognized that there was something “right” in being light on one’s feet — rather than simply plodding along, shuffling one’s feet — even for great distances. Palpably and aesthetically, it was not the same sense as one leaping and moving quickly on their feet — and particularly on their toes or balls of their feet. Such movements, required the greater articulation of the foot musculature — which has led some exercise physiologists to proclaim that the feet are the second heart of the human body when operated in this manner — as the "soleus pushup.”

That has led to a few enterprising individuals to devise and market a simple device to simulate this movement — but doesn’t require it. It can easily and effectively be done sitting in any chair that allows such freedom of movement — and as such, may even be superior to a stationary bicycle because of its singular focus on the importance of the full range foot movement — not to be confused with the movement at the hips and knees. It is the alternation of the muscle state from fullest contraction to relaxation that produces the pumping effect — which is also the quality produced by any and all the muscles activated in this way.

That is the very reason that exercise in general is beneficial for the health of the body — by directing the blood flow to those areas actually exercised in this manner. If it were only the heart responsible for pumping blood equally to all parts of the body, then we would not see the disproportionate developments of those who choose only to work their upper body, and ignore their lower body -- and vice-versa. But the flow must go to where there actually is the clearing of space because of the muscular contractions compressing the fluids out of that area — which then makes it possible and easy for the heart to pump blood into those vacuums. Without such preceding contractions and clearing, the heart cannot overcome the resistance of the already full area — and fluid accumulation and inflammation (swelling) Is the inevitable result — that continues to worsen in time without this intervention.

This is the condition seen so often with poor circulation in their feet and legs — even if they articulate movement at the hip and knees — because the backup begins at the feet that is minimally or inadequately articulated — even while there may be movement at the hips and knees. This is fairly typical of the movements performed on exercise machines that do not stress the importance of the movement at the extremity. For all practical purposes, it is the same as walking a mile while shuffling their feet. There is no articulation at the foot, and thus no pumping effect — which is the chief value of the exercise.

So when one realizes that it is the movement at the feet (ankle), the machine, device, resistance is much less important — that movement can be done, seated, lying, or standing — with or without equipment, productively. That is true for all the extremities of the body — which are those areas notorious for the poorest circulation of the body — but doesn’t have to be that way. The understanding changes the equation. Then when one realizes that the distal (insertion) of muscles contracts towards the proximal (origin), it becomes a simple matter in accomplishing the healthful effect of exercises — rather than just burning as many calories futilely by doing all the wrong things and wondering why exercise does not deliver the results promised by so many “experts.”

It doesn’t matter how much of the wrong thing you do — and have no time to learn the right thing that works.