Exercise — The Art of Moving the Body

In today’s life, almost everyone is conscious of health. Some people begin their morning with a walk, some spend hours in the gym, some practise yoga, while others prefer running, swimming, cycling or different sports. There are people who exercise regularly, those who exercise whenever they find time, and also those who keep postponing it for one reason or another.

Looking at all this, a simple question arises— What exactly do we mean by exercise?

Is walking while talking with friends really exercise? Is exercising only when time permits enough? Is joining a gym for a year and visiting it only occasionally sufficient? And if exercise is meant for health, can doing more of it always mean greater benefit?

Perhaps not.

Vyayama is not merely movement of the body. It is a disciplined form of physical effort, undertaken according to the strength and capacity of the individual.

This distinction is important.

Our everyday life itself involves a great deal of physical and mental exertion. We travel, climb stairs, walk from one place to another, work continuously and remain engaged in one activity after another. Yet all this cannot necessarily be considered Vyayama.

There is a difference between exertion and exercise.

Exertion may simply leave the body tired. Proper exercise, on the other hand, should bring a sense of lightness, strength and vitality. The purpose is not merely to exhaust the body, but to make it more capable of performing its functions.

This is perhaps why Vyayama has been given a place in Dinacharya.

But here again, one needs to be careful.

Exercise is beneficial when it is appropriate; the same exercise, when done in excess or in an unsuitable manner, may become a cause of discomfort.

Today, there are innumerable forms of exercise. Walking, running, jogging, swimming, cycling, yoga, various sports, dancing, gymnastics and gym-based exercises are all available. The choices are many, but the question remains—which one is appropriate for me?

The answer cannot be the same for everyone.

A young and physically strong person may tolerate a certain amount of exercise. A person with less strength, weakness, illness or digestive disturbance may require a very different approach. Age, strength, constitution, habitual activity and the present condition of the body all have their own importance.

Therefore, it is not wise to look at another person’s exercise routine and simply make it our own.

The body is individual; therefore, its exercise too has to be individual.

Ayurveda has never advocated a thoughtless approach towards Vyayama. It considers the proper time, quantity and suitability of exercise. Traditionally, exercise is described as part of the morning routine, before bathing, with its extent being adjusted according to season and individual strength.

In the colder season, when strength is naturally greater, a person may undertake comparatively more exercise. At other times, it should be undertaken more moderately and according to one’s capacity.

But how does one know when enough is enough?

The body itself gives the answer.

During appropriate exercise, the breathing becomes somewhat laboured, perspiration appears and the body begins to experience a sense of lightness. These are signals that should not be ignored. When the body has reached its appropriate limit, continuing merely for the sake of doing more cannot be considered wisdom.

The body speaks through its own signs; we only need to learn to listen.

This is where the idea of Mātrā—the appropriate measure—becomes important. Too little exercise may gradually make the body sluggish and inactive. On the other hand, excessive exercise may produce exhaustion and discomfort. The aim, therefore, is neither complete inactivity nor unnecessary exertion.

The aim is balance.

When performed appropriately, Vyayama can bring lightness to the body, reduce laziness, increase enthusiasm and improve the capacity for work. It contributes to strength, firmness and stability of the body and supports the maintenance of good health.

But in our enthusiasm for health, we sometimes forget the importance of moderation.

Some exercise whenever they get a little free time. Some follow the same routine throughout the year without considering seasonal changes. Some exercise immediately after eating. Some suddenly increase their exercise after remaining inactive for a long period. Others continue exercising despite fatigue, discomfort or other bodily signals.

There are also people who become so concerned about maintaining fitness that rest itself begins to appear unnecessary.

But rest is not the opposite of exercise; appropriate rest is a necessary companion to it.

The body needs both movement and recovery.

The same principle applies to the way exercise is stopped. After completing exercise, immediately rushing into the next activity without allowing the body to settle, or ignoring the need for appropriate post-exercise care, may defeat the very purpose for which exercise was undertaken.

Thus, the question is not merely— “Do you exercise?”

Perhaps the more meaningful questions are— “Do you exercise according to your strength?” “Do you recognise the signals of your body?” “Do you adjust your exercise according to the season and your condition?” “Does your exercise leave you stronger and lighter, or merely exhausted?”

These questions change the entire way we look at exercise.

Exercise should not become merely a fashion, a competition or a means of changing physical appearance. Its deeper purpose is to maintain the body in a state of strength, lightness and functional capacity.

We do not exercise only to look fit.

We exercise so that the body remains capable of living well.

And perhaps this is where the Ayurvedic understanding of Vyayama becomes especially meaningful in the present day.

Our lives may have changed. Our occupations may have changed. Our surroundings may have changed. But the body still has its own requirements. It still needs movement. It still needs rest. It still responds to excess. And it still gives us signals when we cross its limits.

Therefore, even in the busiest routine, some time must be reserved for the body.

It need not always be elaborate. It need not always be strenuous. It simply needs to be appropriate, regular and mindful.

A little movement done regularly may be more meaningful than occasional excessive effort. A routine that respects the capacity of the individual may be more beneficial than one copied from someone else. And exercise that leaves the body light and invigorated is perhaps more meaningful than exercise pursued merely until exhaustion.

Ultimately, Vyayama teaches us something beyond physical movement.

It teaches us to understand measure. To recognise capacity. To respect the body’s signals. And to maintain balance.

Neither complete inactivity nor excessive exertion— but movement according to one’s own strength.

Because health is not achieved merely by doing more.

Health is nurtured by doing what is appropriate.

And perhaps this is the thought with which we should approach Vyayama— “Move the body, strengthen the body, listen to the body—and never lose the balance between effort and rest.”