I recently read a book called Exercised by Daniel Lieberman. Daniel is an evolutionary biologist who wanted to explore the exercise phenomenon in modern times. If we were supposed to move, then why do we avoid it?

My overall take on the book is that as hunter gatherers we only moved every day due to a need to feed ourselves. Once we had finished the days hunt (a tidy 10 to 17 km's per day), successful or not we rested.

The thing is, our brains have not really evolved from this 'hunt & gather' programming but our lifestyle has. Now, in modern times, from the moment we wake up, our days hunt is ready and waiting in our kitchen. So we walk to the kitchen, make our meal then our brain says, its time to rest.

So, from an evolutionary perspective, don't feel bad that you don't want to exercise. There are very few people who actually do. Now that you know you are not hardwired to move its time to find new ways to move because my understanding (from the book) is the secret to a long, healthy life is in the movement we achieve each and every day. Movement (exercise) is life.

I am now looking at my daily movement with a different approach. Knowing I won't naturally want to move is okay but its important for my physical and mental health that I do.

Since reading that book I haven't missed a day of moving my body. I have made a commitment to myself that I would do something everyday.

The author recommends walking on most days if you can. Strength training (lifting weights) two times per week and some sort of regular interval training to spike the heart rate. And I would offer (naturally) yoga, meditation and breath practice thrown in a couple times too.

So you can hopefully take the pressure off yourself every time you want to get up and move. Now you know that it's normal to not want to but doesn't mean you shouldn't.

I hope to see you our walking and on the mat!

Tracy.