Posted by Hombre on July 9, 2010, at 21:36:29
In reply to Re: Exercise: Rebuild Your Brain, posted by linkadge on July 9, 2010, at 17:57:52
A lot of new findings are only in the past ten years. There seems to be a connection between our ability to move and interact with our environment and our ability to learn and feel like we have options. Rats without running wheels and other stimuli will show less developed brain tissue than rats who can run and play.
When depressed, people tend to avoid activities, social situations and prefer isolation. While we know that this is not the best thing to do, sometimes this is the only thing we feel we can do to avoid the crippling anxiety and dread we feel at the thought of having to explain why we're so tired, don't feel like talking much, and don't laugh at the same jokes we once did.
A modest exercise plan, which could even start in bed (selectively tensing and relaxing muscles in coordination with our breathing), can give us a small, controlled amount of stress that we can control. It may give us a feeling that, "hey, I can handle this small stress. I'm not totally useless". Repetition of our self-created "movement rituals" may help us develop a modest but effective habit and a base of self-confidence to work with.
In Asia, you'll see a lot of old people in the parks in the early morning. Most are not even doing any set form of exercise, such as Tai Chi, although there are plenty that seem to get a kick out of that. The other day I saw a sweet old lady, probably 80-90 years old, just swinging her arms around in different patterns while concentrating. She had a little routine and although her range of motion was not large, and some wouldn't even consider this exercise, it was obvious that this was something she was used to doing and it got her outside and moving. She was darned cute, too.
poster:Hombre
thread:953833
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100709/msgs/953943.html