Sumner - You are how you move: experiential chi kung

Ask people the question What is exercise? and you might find yourself getting remarkably consistent feedback. Exercise seems to generate images of humans engaged in strong physical activity such as sports, running, aerobics and workouts on machines at the gym. The picture of faces strained by physical exertion comes to mind, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Few people regard warming up and stretching as an important factor, and some suggest that exercise is about creating stamina. Its an interesting question to ask, and on the whole most people seem to think that exercise is synonymous with going to the gym.

Then, theres the question of fitness. It seems that the ideal image or goal of exercising is to try to gain some approximation, if only a mediocre one, of the professional athlete at the peak of their performance. Whilst we may all have somewhat disappointed, but perhaps more realistic, understandings of our own limitations, at the back of our minds still lies the image of the perfect human form in peak fitness and performance. Surely theres nothing wrong in aiming for perfection? We all love to watch our supernatural heroes battle through every physical, psychological and emotional challenge to be the best, the ultimate Olympian champion. We all hold this gargantuan physical exertion in the highest regard, whether we are sport oriented or not.

It is inspiring to watch the skill, dedication, determination, talent and well-oiled synchronization of the human form all come together in an athlete to achieve an Olympic medal. In this arena the seemingly impossible suddenly becomes possible. It is here that the image of the perfect body enters our psyches and we set about unconsciously trying to achieve that dream body.

Hard-driven exercise might suit some people, but chasing an ideal image, fantasizing about producing a particular body look, losing weight and having a physical performance level that is only possible through tremendous effort is generally unattainable for most people, owing to the lack of time, motivation and dedication necessary. It immediately feels easier to give up before one even begins, for that perfect body image is set so high. Rather than become despondent, lets challenge the status quo and question our ideas of exercise and perhaps discover an easier, effective, attainable and enjoyable form of exercise.

Its no wonder that, when most of us consider the idea of exercise, it tends to make us feel immediately stressed. The idea of corporate-looking gyms, drilling exercise regimes, peer pressure and body image start to spoil the mind. Thats enough to stop many people from even starting and who can blame them? It does feel exhausting and over-demanding. The old maxim commands No pain, no gain, indicating that exercise in Western society is associated with enormous effort, and physical pain and strain.

The problem is that most exercise is focused on looking good and, in order to achieve this, having to pursue a monotonous exercise regime that doesnt fill you with inspiration, but gets results. The concept of simply feeling good, connected and healthy is of secondary concern. Unfortunately, many people dont realize theres an alternative; so, feeling unfulfilled at the gym, they either stop and start never really getting into it or persist and renew their membership, hoping that that will be enough of a motivation, but then dont turn up for weeks and feel guilty; or, exasperated and simply bored, stop exercising altogether, which will probably result in a total lack of movement and therefore lead to poor health.

Statistics say that most people dont exercise consistently beyond the age of thirty, beyond forty less than thirty per cent of the population are exercising at all, and increasingly people are becoming more sedentary each year. Its not hard to miss. Children are driven to school, adults travel in cars and trains, people watch television, spend more time browsing on the internet and play more computer games than ever before, and all this does is help their blood collect in their legs. We dont walk any more and most people are eating nutritionally poor diets or are overweight. In an age where you can eat excellent nutritional food, many people are still eating too much fat, sugar and salt, increasing their bulk and decreasing their metabolism. Western society is so wealthy theres actually an excess of food for the first time in the history of man, as well as the greatest variety of foodstuffs ever imaginable. The choice is so great its overwhelming. Despite the greatest wealth of intelligent literature and guidance on nutrition that has ever been available, the majority of people are poisoning themselves thanks to lack of food education and poor diet, while the rest of the world is malnourished from the lack of food.