Principles in Designing an Effective Exercise Program

1)  The rationale for exercise is to improve the circulation to any part of the body actually articulated (moved).  Circulation is what brings healthy nutrients to every cell in the body -- while removing toxic buildup.  Optimizing that circulation provides the greatest health to that body -- and therefore optimizing that functioning while enabling further growth.

2)  The parts of the body particularly noted to poor circulation is predictably at the extremities of the body -- where the blood vessels are smaller -- for a very good reason.  The blood vessels get smaller to increase the surface area and exchange potential of the passing blood cells with the resident cells to sustain their life-giving health and well-being.

3)  The design of the human body favors the articulation (movements) at the head, hands and feet -- most importantly.  Such mastery is noted in most human expressions -- in work, play (athletics), art, dexterity, etc.  As people age, or decline in health, what is particularly notabe is the deterioration at the neck, hands, and feet -- though that is incidentally addressed in most traditional as well as "state of the art" exercise modalities -- hence the widespread belief that there is nothing -- or very little that can be done about it.  Instead, the focus shifts to other areas of the body that are much less important and critical to maintaining the health and vigor.

One will note that movements at the extremities at the head, hands and feet MUST be supported by the rest of the musculature structures -- while it is entirely possible to overlook and override that development in focusing and measuring movements (changes) at the core of the body -- particularly the heart -- which is actually the CONSTANT in every individual.  That is to say, that one's heart is unique to every individual -- and what they need to learn to do throughout their lives, is to adapt appropriately to those capabilities -- rather than push it beyond its limits to remain competitive with others.  

In this respect, all hearts are not created equal -- nor are all brains for that matter -- or any other body parts, so to treat them as such, invalidates the whole basis for making it a "competitive" activity.  That is probably the greatest error in the understanding of human physiology and kinesiology.  The only meaningful measure is one's individual performance measured against their own baseline performance -- as the measure of anything significant.  

4)  When one strips away most of the erroneous and fallacious presumptions about exercise, it is a rather simple matter to design and effect a productive course of practice for every individual -- beginning with their uniquely own baseline -- rather than prematurely to world record standards -- or the the theoretical "average."

5)  The major advantage of exercise equipment is that it can be adjusted down as well as up -- and not as usually thought, that it should always and inevitably be adjusted up -- even to the point when the movement is unrecognizable from the beginning baseline movement -- which understandably, must be the unimpeded free-hand movement throughout the greatest range of that articulation.  That articulation is made possible by the changes in state of the muscle that provides that movement -- from the fullest relaxation of that muscle, to its fullest contraction.

6)  The change in muscular state, is what physically and physiologically controls the rate of flow (circulation) to any particular area of the body -- and is particularly important to effect in any desire to improve the health, functioning and well-being of that particular region (organ) -- as noted in aging and people of declining health -- including those in presumably good health because their biceps and abdominal muscles are still impressive -- despite declining abilities at their head, hands and feet -- where it should be obviously more important to measure, and implies the underlying supporting health of those "core" functions.

7)  Thus with the misplaced emphasis on all the wrong things and areas of the human body, it is understandable to note that exercise seems to have a tenuous relationship to health, longevity, and functioning than one would assume should be more direct and clearcut.  That happens when one looks at all the wrong things -- as one who is unfamiliar with any (sporting) activity and doesn't understand the rules and objectives of the game.  Is it to kick the ball the farthest -- or most accurately?  Or both?

8)  How often is enough?  Actually, once would be plenty -- if it is the World Record -- but most have to practice a lifetime to achieve that, and many practicing a lifetime, will never achieve that.  But even for the world record holder, how often do they have to do that?  Once would be sufficient.

But many in every activity of expressions and possibilities, are naturally gifted as prodigies in their activities -- whether they want to be or not.  That is not a matter of desire or drive -- but genetics, and the person they were uniquely designed to be.  That is why it is so important in life for every individual to discover what those talents and abilities are for themselves -- as well as their weaknesses and vulnerabilities -- and adapt to them as best they can, for a happy existence.  Trying to be something or someone other than one is meant to be, is the surest programming for disaster and unhappiness in one's life and everything they do.

9)  While the effort and exercise is important, just as important is the proper recovery -- or one merely and prematurely depletes themselves because they are not a sustainable organism.  All individuals and organizations are governed by those economies -- and as such, must develop the proper balance between all things, rather than than a lopsided development of only one thing -- in disregard or at the expense of all the others.  Life does not work well that way -- with any kind of disproportion and imbalance.  It will inevitably and predictably trigger an opposite and counterbalancing reaction -- usually beyond one's control.

10)  Life is a process of finding out.  There are no golden rules or ten commandments -- other than what each individual discovers for themselves.  They can use the guidelines as simply what others have thought before them -- but they are not the end-all, and be-all of human knowledge.  That is what each must discover in their own lifetimes.  That was the original intent of all these exercises and practices -- to discover the person and the world and their relationship to one another.  

In this discovery, those who remain humble and are constantly learning and relearning everything they know, are to be regarded much more highly than any claims of exclusive certainty to any knowledge.  The wise will advise to find out for yourself -- which means first, knowing oneself -- and that is the key to understanding anything else.