The Importance of Exercise

For myself exercise has been an absolute must on my spiritual quest for my overall physical and mental health, and an essential part of the conscious spiritual path.

The body, mind and soul as we know are all interconnected, and maintaining the body through conscious movement supports our mental clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual awareness.

I feel and know we must honour our body temple that we have been given to have this experience on this planet, so by keeping it fit and healthy has so many repercussions on all aspects of our mind, body and soul. To neglect it would be a travesty, and hinder our ability to live fully and to commune with the divine within us. Health and vitality is our natural birthright, and regular exercise is our sacred responsibility to maintain our inner harmony.

If we neglect our physical bodies it will inhibit our spiritual quest, as if one is constantly tired, or unwell, then it becomes a major distraction in our lives, and if we are to meditate. If by regular exercise we become energised and relaxed, it allows our minds to go within more deeply, to be more still and find deep levels of peace. The body and mind must both be fit to support our spiritual journey, if the body is not fit then the mind also will not be fit. We must be discipline ourselves to stay active and fit, so we can fulfil our duties in the world, but also it leads to more happiness and peace!

Various levels of energy and breath control will greatly assist you on all levels. Whether you go to a Yoga class or Tai Chi, or the various other modalities out there, or indeed learn the Re-energisation techniques I teach from my master teacher Yogananda, that I do twice everyday to support me with bringing conscious prana life force energy into my body that assists my meditation practices. These exercises direct life force energy or (prana) throughout the body using will power and breath. It works by tensing and releasing the muscles in conjunction with the breath, and this re-awakens the bodies inner energy and connects it to the divine cosmic source. Unlike normal exercising these movements are done with deep awareness, and they are both physically energising, and spiritually uplifting. This teaches us to gain conscious control of energy, essential for deeper meditative states of consciousness.

If we do not exercise then the stagnant energy within us leads to emotional and mental unrest, which feeds both mental and physical habits and depression. Therefore regular exercise whether its walking in beautiful nature, swimming, the gym, yoga, dancing, climbing, cycling, stretching at home, gardening, helps to circulate life force, which releases built up tension and lifts one’s mood. This is followed by a sense of joy and upliftment, more presence as you are more embodied in the here and now, and harmonizes the body and mind!

When we can move the body more consciously, mindfully in presence with gratitude, then exercise becomes a moving meditation, a practice of mindfulness, and eventually to levels of self mastery.

Its very important that we have some level of movement before meditation to promote within our restless bodies more stillness which helps us to venture deeper within our meditation practice. Exercise whether its asanas with Yoga practice, or general stretching, or the re-energisation techniques, or anything you feel will help you. Exercise removes physical agitation, therefore it helps so you can sit with a calm body and quieter mind. Movement and stillness go hand in hand and support each other with the rhythm of life.

‘Be actively calm, and calmly active’

View the body as a sacred instrument, strong, pure, and attuned to spirit!