WHY IS INDIA NOT EXERCISING ENOUGH AND WHY THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE

We do not exercise enough not because we are not capable of it or because the benefits of exercise have not been proven: it is simply because we are not used to it. What we need is a mindset shift that helps us build new habits as a population. Exercise is the magic pill that can add years to our lives, and life to our years

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Our days were filled with enough physical tasks that required us to move our limbs and use our muscles regularly. Our lives were hard enough that they demanded a lot of walking and load-bearing activities. Our food was simple and well-portioned, so we did not need to ‘burn it off’.

While different forms of ‘exercise’ such as wrestling, mudgar swinging, kalaripayattu, yoga and more existed, these were not considered activities that the everyday person must engage in. There were coaches, gymnasiums, schools and students, but the common person, thanks to how difficult life was back then, was active enough (and busy enough) to not require such exercise, daily, for general health.

Similarly, dance and sports were art forms. There were enthusiasts and specialists who trained for excellence and spent hours practising every day for years on end. But, again, these were specialised skills and not everyday activities. Participation was not mandatory or even strongly recommended. The everyday person had other problems to deal with and other activities that took up their time and energy on a daily basis. In other words, life was hard, and hence everyday living kept us occupied with little time left for self-care.

Now, what does this have to do with well-being? For any person to look, feel and function well, we need three fundamental things - food, activity and rest. Food is how we procure energy and nutrients. Activity is how we keep our bodies stimulated and functioning well. And rest is how we rebuild, recover and recuperate. As evolutionary beings, we need all three of these in optimal amounts to thrive.