The Myth of the Maintenance Free Body
Back when we were kids, we could fall down the stairs, off our bike, off the jungle gym, etc. and get up, brush ourselves off, and go back to playing without a second thought. We got used to our bodies taking a beating without needing much care or maintenance.
As we move into adulthood, we expect our bodies to keep behaving this way, because it is what we are used to. We are never taught how to maintain the health and integrity of our bodies. We are given vague admonitions to “eat right” and “exercise regularily,” but in our overbooked lives, many of us don’t take the time, or even know how to go about doing these things.
Think of it this way. If you never changed the oil in your car and drove it 50,000 miles, people would think you were crazy if you expected that car to go on running smoothly, or last its full lifespan. Yet this is pretty much what we expect of our bodies. We think of our vehicles as important tools to help us get things done in life, so we take the time to keep them running well. What tool could be more important than your body?
Just as you take the time to get the oil changed in your car, or change out the spark plugs, you need to put maintenance of your body high on your priority list. After all, it is much more inconvenient for your body to stop working than your car. You can get another car, but you only get one body.
We are all so busy, it can be so hard to find time for exercise and wellness, and VERY easy to find other things to do with that time.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Would more energy throughout the day be helpful in being more productive?
- Does it sometimes take longer to do something because your body hurts or isn’t strong or flexible enough to do the task?
- If exercise really felt good and added tangibly to your quality of life, would it be easier to take the time to do it?
- Do you already spend time at the gym or exercising that could be made more efficient?
- Do you wish you could get back some of that childhood joy in physical activity?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, Pilates at Balanced Physical Therapy may be just the right thing to help you get on the path to feeling good in your body!
You don’t need to decide right now. Finding help creating a dynamic relationship with your body requires trust and safety. Go ahead and download our guide, and see if our approach feels right to you.