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Walk don’t run
July 16, 2012
“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” - Joseph Pilates 1945
Today I might rephrase that statement. Health is the first requisite of happiness. Without our health we have nothing. Along with security of person and home, health is a basic human need.
Health is different than fitness. But it is impossible, to maintain our good health if we do not maintain good physical fitness.
We all know this. Why then is it so hard for us to get fit? And what does that even mean “to be fit”? Pilates describes fitness as:
“The attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily and satisfactorily performing our many and varied tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure”.
In the past few months I have known three men who have each separately embarked on a new running program. All three guys were smokers, over 40, over weight and generally out of shape. Their individual goals were very similar. They wanted to feel better, look better, have more energy, cut down or quit smoking. Maybe run for the streetcar or play soccer with their kids.
They each embarked on a 9-week, thrice weekly walk-run program that would have them running 5k by its completion.
They all started off bravely and with enthusiasm. They all crashed and burned inside 3 weeks. “Can’t run. Hurts my knees. Hurts my back. Can’t run.”
I say to them and to every other person who has tried and new exercise program and failed:
Try again. This time walk, don’t run. If you can’t run -walk then just walk-walk. If you can’t walk 30 minutes, walk 15 minutes. If your back or knees or feet hurt, call in the experts. Hire a trainer or go online to find some exercises to strengthen your weaknesses and address your imbalances.
Just do it every day and don’t stop and don’t give up.
Spontaneous zest and pleasure is a requisite for happiness.
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