What's cardio got to do with it?
Reprinted from the 02/06/08 issue of Trilogy Wellness Foundations. Visit http://www.trilogy-wellness.com to claim your free issues ;-).
The negative press about cardiovascular or "aerobic" exercise has been increasing for some time. What began as a healthy trend away from hours upon hours of body pounding aerobic insanity, has morphed into "cardio bashing" by many fitness experts. I've even read articles that say cardiovascular exercise is downright "bad" for you.
OK, enough already! Cardiovascular exercise is not bad for you. Here's the physiological truth: cardiovascular alone is limited in its capacity to significantly change the way your body looks. Also alone, cardio can compound muscle imbalances that exist from an otherwise sedentary life. You may run/walk 3 miles a day but if you mostly sit in between, you will likely have problems that may get worse instead of better. Another potential pitfall of a cardio only routine is getting into a rut. Running the same course or taking the same spin class month after month, year after year will not challenge or improve the body. But, it will do something else, perhaps something even more significant....
Many, myself included, incorporate regular cardiovascular exercise into our routine because it makes us feel good. It reduces both feelings of stress and measurable physiological changes associated with the fight or flight response. This is a good thing and likely something that you already know by experience. The benefits of cardiovascular exercise go way deeper than mere "stress management" however. Let's look at cardiovasculare exercise at the level of your energy field to discover more.
We are spiritual beings having a physical experience. Whatever we do physically affects the spiritual. Human beings have, in addition to a physical body, an energetic body that contains seven levels. Each level is supported by a chakra or energy vortex that is responsible for bringing in or "metabolizing" the specific energy frequencies needed to support its corresponding level in our energy field. The health of our energy systems determines the health of every aspect of ourselves - how we feel, think, get along in relationships, achieve success or come up short yet again - all determined by the health of our energetic chakra system.
The first chakra supports and is affected by the bones and muscles of the physical body. This chakra roots us to the earth and creates a sense of safety. Financial problems, an "unsafe" circumstance for many, are almost always associated with first chakra dysfunction. When we participate in cardiovascular exercise, we enlist the action of a significant portion of our musculo-skeletal system and by doing so, enliven the first or "root" chakra.
The activity called for by our working muscles demands more oxygen- this is the measureable physiological need of aerobic exercise - but what is oxygen but breath and what is breath but Spirit? This is revealed in the Judeo-Christian tradition in Genesis 2.7 "then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Other traditions express this truth using different analogies but its the same fundamental Spiritual truth.) As we breathe, our seventh or "crown" chakra is activated. We literally draw into ourselves more Spirit or Life Force with each breath. "Breath is Life."
The delivery system of oxygen to muscles is, of course, our 4-chambered heart and complex cardiovascular system. These are the domain of the fourth or "heart" chakra. This is the chakra of integration between the physical body and the spiritual body. Growing up Catholic I often heard reference to "the sacred heart of Jesus" which was a way of expressing the Truth of Jesus. Jesus was revealing to us how to live in the highest expression of integration between man-body and spirit-God - how to live from our heart.
Consciously engaging in cardiovascular exercise with full awareness of the blessing of merging breath/Spirit with body/earth becomes a body prayer and will enhance your ability to live more consistently from your heart. Now, that's a good reason to get out and take a vigorous walk!
The negative press about cardiovascular or "aerobic" exercise has been increasing for some time. What began as a healthy trend away from hours upon hours of body pounding aerobic insanity, has morphed into "cardio bashing" by many fitness experts. I've even read articles that say cardiovascular exercise is downright "bad" for you.
OK, enough already! Cardiovascular exercise is not bad for you. Here's the physiological truth: cardiovascular alone is limited in its capacity to significantly change the way your body looks. Also alone, cardio can compound muscle imbalances that exist from an otherwise sedentary life. You may run/walk 3 miles a day but if you mostly sit in between, you will likely have problems that may get worse instead of better. Another potential pitfall of a cardio only routine is getting into a rut. Running the same course or taking the same spin class month after month, year after year will not challenge or improve the body. But, it will do something else, perhaps something even more significant....
Many, myself included, incorporate regular cardiovascular exercise into our routine because it makes us feel good. It reduces both feelings of stress and measurable physiological changes associated with the fight or flight response. This is a good thing and likely something that you already know by experience. The benefits of cardiovascular exercise go way deeper than mere "stress management" however. Let's look at cardiovasculare exercise at the level of your energy field to discover more.
We are spiritual beings having a physical experience. Whatever we do physically affects the spiritual. Human beings have, in addition to a physical body, an energetic body that contains seven levels. Each level is supported by a chakra or energy vortex that is responsible for bringing in or "metabolizing" the specific energy frequencies needed to support its corresponding level in our energy field. The health of our energy systems determines the health of every aspect of ourselves - how we feel, think, get along in relationships, achieve success or come up short yet again - all determined by the health of our energetic chakra system.
The first chakra supports and is affected by the bones and muscles of the physical body. This chakra roots us to the earth and creates a sense of safety. Financial problems, an "unsafe" circumstance for many, are almost always associated with first chakra dysfunction. When we participate in cardiovascular exercise, we enlist the action of a significant portion of our musculo-skeletal system and by doing so, enliven the first or "root" chakra.
The activity called for by our working muscles demands more oxygen- this is the measureable physiological need of aerobic exercise - but what is oxygen but breath and what is breath but Spirit? This is revealed in the Judeo-Christian tradition in Genesis 2.7 "then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Other traditions express this truth using different analogies but its the same fundamental Spiritual truth.) As we breathe, our seventh or "crown" chakra is activated. We literally draw into ourselves more Spirit or Life Force with each breath. "Breath is Life."
The delivery system of oxygen to muscles is, of course, our 4-chambered heart and complex cardiovascular system. These are the domain of the fourth or "heart" chakra. This is the chakra of integration between the physical body and the spiritual body. Growing up Catholic I often heard reference to "the sacred heart of Jesus" which was a way of expressing the Truth of Jesus. Jesus was revealing to us how to live in the highest expression of integration between man-body and spirit-God - how to live from our heart.
Consciously engaging in cardiovascular exercise with full awareness of the blessing of merging breath/Spirit with body/earth becomes a body prayer and will enhance your ability to live more consistently from your heart. Now, that's a good reason to get out and take a vigorous walk!
2/12/2008 11:45:08 AM
Written by Mary Kay Morgan, MS CPT
Mary Kay Morgan, MS is an entrepreneur, author, nationally known speaker and master coach who guides her clients to bringing their passionate vision fully into the physical. In addition to her expertise in exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, nutrition, energy medicine and personal development, Mary Kay is “Mo...
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Website: http://www.yourbodyyourguru.com/
Comments
http://www.wellness.com/blog/20203/what-s-cardio-got-to-do-with-it/mary-kay-morgan-ms-cpt
Hmmm.... thanks for the comments as it helps me to understand that I didnot express myself effectively! The point of the article was not about how to get THROUGH your cardio, it was how to get FROM it - and I'm not talking fat loss and VO2max!
If you are bored while doing cardio why do it? Your "results" will be minimal because if you are bored you are not present in your body - you're mind is either in the past or future so the physical "benefits" you may garner from time on the treadmill will not be worth the effort. Similarly, if you use devices to disconnect from your experience while exercising (no matter what you are doing), you will diminish the physical benefits of that exercise. While you may not want to get all "zen" about it, consider this: do athletes in training, athletes who are focused on a goal and are committed to attaining that goal, do they workout in front of a tv? Do they read a magazine in between reps? Do they complain of being bored? Not often, and not if they are serious. Why? Because they have figured out that physical success requires the commitment of their whole being. Body mind and spirit all have to show up for the event AND for the workout.
So maybe you don't have any interest in being an athlete with a goal any more than you want to be a zen monk - but would you like to learn how to make your exercise time more efficient and effective? Focus and presence during your chosen activity is the key. "Being bored" becomes a non-issue when you become focused and present.
Check out my blog post "Twice the results in half the time" for how to do apply this idea to resistance training. And of course one of the best ways to learn how to be present in your body while "exercising" is yoga.
Posted by Mary Kay Morgan, MS CPT
http://www.wellness.com/blog/20203/what-s-cardio-got-to-do-with-it/mary-kay-morgan-ms-cpt
When I run on the treadmill or use the elliptical I listen to my iPod, I try and pick very upbeat songs to get the blood pumping. Some times the machines have tv's so I'll watch tv to pass the time... it works!
I've seen some people read books or magazines while running, not sure how they can do that, I've tried it once and it just made me feel sick :(
Posted by Mareesa
http://www.wellness.com/blog/20203/what-s-cardio-got-to-do-with-it/mary-kay-morgan-ms-cpt
I usually run on a thread mill. What do you do keep yourself from getting bored?
Posted by Charlotte
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