One of my good friends, a guru of sorts, once told me during a ride that things change. He was 50 years-old at the time and the change he was referring to was cycling abilities and priorities. At the time, I was at the peak of my cycling prowess; we were part of strong masters team and things were rolling beautifully. Ah…you are strong, I said. We can keep this up for many more years. He shook his head. “You will see, John.”
Now that I have reached that milestone, I realize the wisdom. Things do change. Bodies change. Priorities change. Pegs on which people hang their self-esteem change.
One thing that remains unchanged, though, is the power of exercise to bring health. Exercise, along with good food choices, sleep hygiene and kindness form the foundation of true health. Wellness.
My views on exercise have always been biased by my own experiences. In the past, I believed that if exercise was to deliver heart health, (drops in blood pressure, change in cholesterol levels, arterial changes) it had to look a certain way. Mostly, it had to be intense and aerobic.
A series of studies on the ancient Indian practice of Yoga challenge such thinking. One study went so far as to study Yoga for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
I reviewed these studies and wrote some thoughts on the matter. It’s my first post as a writer for the consumer side of WebMD.
The link and title of the story: Yoga for Heart Health? (No registration is required.)
JMM