The Road Ahead

My physician once commented that some of his happiest and ache-free patients were the ones who did the least physical exercise. Their sedentary lifestyles did not tax their bodies – they rarely challenged their agility, stamina or range of motion. They were not sore and suffered few aches and pains. That is… until they bent over to pick something up off the floor or spent the unusual day doing lawn work. And whoa, out went their back. Muscle relaxants, painkillers, physical therapy and alternate treatments helped but never really allowed them to fully recover.

As we age, we limit our physical activity by choice, force of habit and the constraints of schedules and time – we sit way too much. This ultimately impacts our range of motion. The more or less you move, the more or less range of motion you have -- just compare a toddler such as the one shown above easily performing Baddha Konasana --physically active, supple and playful all day…
to a middle aged executive, slouched in an airline seat, hunched over a computer or at the desk facing loads of work.

As you age, you have two choices ahead of you. The first is to accept the misleading fact that your flexibility will decline as you get older; and prepare yourself to do less and hurt more. Or, you can take the other route; slowly and methodically work to re-build and maintain your mobility. While you may never return to the flexibility and suppleness you had as a young child, you can regain much of it.

This will require work, persistence and some discomfort – but the benefits are worth it. The sooner you start moving again, the faster you will feel better.