Exercise with the Seasons
From a Chinese perspective staying in harmony with nature and its seasons is vital to maintain good health and longevity. Eating foods grown locally in the appropriate season is important to help the body adjust and stay in balance. It would logically follow, therefore, that the types of exercise we choose for our body should also change according to the season. In spring our bodies are wakening up after the dormancy of the cold winter months. In nature it’s a time for tiny seedlings to grow carefully and slowly, for buds to form and blossoms to open. Our exercise activity should reflect this nurturing process. Warm-ups are important, massage is good for under used muscles and a body coming out of hibernation. Fresh air and warm breezes of spring blow away the cobwebs of winter from our home and open up our bodies to rejuvenating qi. Ideal exercise for spring would focus on:
breathing
stretching
qigong, yoga
light weights and light cardio
walking
meditation
outdoor activities
Not only is it necessary to keep in harmony with the seasons, a daily exercise routine will benefit from matching the time of day. Morning is time for sunrise and activity to begin. Evening is time to relax and prepare for sleep. In the same way exercise in the morning goes from stillness to movement. Meditate first, jog last. In the evening think of slowing down and preparing for the stillness of the night. Aerobic activity and more vigorous workouts come first. Progress to yoga and relaxation, then end with silent meditation. In this way the natural rhythm of the day is followed.
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