Are you ready for a timely turn-about-the-room? Are minuets’ last notes hanging in the air? Has that game of whist become boring?
Perhaps it’s a time to encourage a companion to join you!
It’s time to get off the couch during time outs from March Madness and walk about the house or take advantage of that seventh inning stretch!
Regular body movement is not exclusive to those residing in the 21st century. In fact, Brian Kozlowski, is soon to release a book about wellness via Jane Austen in his book, The Jane Austen in Diet: Secrets to Food, Health, and Incandescent Happiness.
Okay. So … There’s nothing new under the sun, right? Wrong!
With Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice as my forever favorites, I can thank the authors, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen – respectively – for the practical examples of daily exercise.
While budding romantic feelings are developing for Mr. Rochester and Mr. Darcy, our authors of old also showed us how exercise is woven into the lives of governesses and fair ladies alike.
In both the stark of winter and in the bliss of spring, our early day romance characters sought regular exercise and exposure to the fresh outdoors whenever possible.
If the weather was formidable, they literally strolled around the room. When weather was tolerable, they went for extensive walks – not only about the luxuriant gardens – but also around the country side.
Jane Fairfax, an Austen heroine, is prescribed more, “fresh air for the recovery of her health.” The total rejuvenating experience of today’s popular forest bathing – already described in our past post HERE – is described in “Persuasion” by Anne as bringing her comfort.
Today’s science brings revelations – apparently, intuitively long known – that just one day’s exercise keeps nerve cells actively revved up for two days. Seems that exercise activates a neuron, that stimulates appetite suppression, as well as reduces the activity of the neuron that ramps up appetite.
Seems that a trip to the nearest fancy gym is not required. Short bouts of DAILY exercise for 10-15 minutes are enough to keep things in balance and on the sunny side of being fit and not resembling a couch potato.
Just sixty seconds of high-intensity workout – read, jog to and from the mailbox and perhaps around the house – along with a ten-minute walk around the neighborhood will yield the same results as a 45-minute jog.
Hallelujah!
Translation to reality in March 2019: I will keep going to my group exercise class twice a week for full body activation and the awesome social connectivity AND use the time outs during March Madness as an opportunity to stretch, turn about the room, and create a pumped-up, high stepping drill to cheer on my team!
When not attending a gym class or activity, take a stroll around your countryside for one of the best workouts ever invented: walking outdoors in the fresh air.
Trust Jane and Elizabeth who knew all about keeping physically active. Take a stroll. If climbing up steep hills is not included, then jog for sixty seconds some time during your walk for maximum results.
In health-
Deidre