The Simplicity of Understanding Conditioning (The State-of-the-Art)

Things to keep in mind:

1. Low impact, low wear and tear. First, do no harm.

2. Ensure (optimal) circulation to the extremities of the body. It has to flow through the core to get there -- not vice-versa. That requires actual movement at the extremities -- of the head, hands and feet, which are ignored in conventional/traditional exercise movements, which makes them ineffective in addressing the deterioration that begins at those sites -- despite the functioning of the central internal organs -- including the heart, lungs, etc.

The extremities, are the critical voluntary organs of the body accounting for the senses of sight, hearing, taste, thought, feeling, touch, balance and stability -- which in most people, deteriorate or disintegrate first.

3. Deep breathing is made possible by slow breathing -- through the nose only. Air movement is produced by altering the chest volume -- and not simply forcing the air out through the mouth, which doesn't require the engagement of the torso muscles for this purpose.

4. Movements should produce full muscle contractions alternated by relaxations in a rhythmic cadence to effect a "pulse" to wherever is deemed most important to keep vital. That can be done lying, seated or standing -- and need not elevate the heart rate, require high consumption of energy or produce overheating of the body (sweating).

5. Effective exercise (conditioning) movements, can be done any time, anywhere, in any condition -- as the need for it is recognized. It does not require special equipment, clothing or place. The human body itself, is the optimal exercise equipment (environment) -- once one understands its design and function -- particularly, to maintain and improve itself.

6. Movements should be sustained for a minute or a count of 50. Counting is a good way to maintain brain-to-movement coordination (memory), particularly in the aged, disruptions (strokes) and impairments (dementias). Intentionally increasing the blood flow to the brain, increases the functioning of the brain (intelligence and awareness).

7. There are far better movements than walking -- but one has to keep in mind, that the movements of importance, must occur at the head, hands and feet articulating its fullest range of movement -- which not coincidentally, produces its fullest muscular contractions throughout the rest of the body, since the design of the human body, is specifically to alter the angles (rotations) of the head, hands and feet, while being stabilized by the larger muscles (structures) of the body.

8. Changes in the shape of the body, can be effected immediately -- by the proper understanding and attainment of its fullest muscle contraction alternated with its relaxation. It is primarily a learned skill -- as the young call it, "Making a muscle." One can do that wherever there is a muscle (throughout the entire human body), and learns to perfect that movement of producing a simple full muscle contraction (articulation).

9. No muscle in isolation (specialization), can achieve its fullest muscular contraction. The state of any muscle, is dependent on the state of its adjoining (supporting) structures (muscles) in an integrated (integrating) movement.

10. A lifelong program of exercise, should be a daily, regular activity like brushing one's teeth. If one feels that it requires extraordinary effort, condition, and will to perform, they will disregard (abandon) it when optimal conditions do not already exist, and think it not possible to achieving that state -- through those movements.

That is the simplicity of Understanding Conditioning.