The old saying, “without our health, we have nothing” means a lot to many of us whom have not yet experienced the meaning of  “It no longer works”.  Some of us are still at the stage of, “if I don’t take care of it, it will no longer work.”  So we are researching and educating as we go.

We are very fortunate in our time.  We have access to information as never before.  And we may and can immediately draw upon all of our resources to gather information.  But there is something about first-hand experience.  There is something about being able to experience it ourselves, tangibly, physically.  To worry about our lives as if for the first time we have realized that they are expendable.  That if we do not really listen to them and take care of them that they, our bodies, will genuinely fail us.

It’s incredible because you see these ill-looking people and they look ill, you see beautiful people and you think they are healthy, but they are really quite ill, and you see people with huge pot bellies and you think, come on, they have to be in ill health, but they’re not doing anything about it.  They have to have diabetes or at least high blood pressure, but that’s not stopping them from anything, including trying to be healthful.

I have learned our bodies really are a reflection of what we ingest.  Our kidneys do their best to filter blood and urine, but after many decades even our organs and veins become clogged if we have ingested the wrong things.

Now we know we should exercise.  We know we should move around and gain muscle mass, but the truth is, is that sometimes we just can’t.  And I mean can’t, not won’t or don’t have time, but seriously, can’t.  There are times when we say my body isnt' like it used to be, and why do I feel this way.  One of those times is when we notice we are cold all of the time; or when our hands or our feet are always cold.  If you are the only one turning up the heat and everyone around you is complaining that they are too warm, take a look at yourself, because your circulation may not be circulating as it should.  Cold hands and cold feet is a sure sign of poor circulation.

So, now, even if you can’t, there is a way to exercise without moving your muscles or getting out of bed.  It is a way of still moving, and especially moving your circulatory system.  The exercise is, moving your feet.

Move your feel back and forth, like a paddleboat; move them ‘toes out and toes in and toes out…’; toes back and forth and back and forth; feet - move them in circles, just move them around and around and you will be moving your circulation.

Now keep it going, like a regular exercise.  It actually is an exercise, we just tend not to think of it as such because we don’t need any gear.  But with this circulation exercise, we can still build up a sweat, and still increase our heart rate; the main criteria for exercise n’est ce pas?  Think of all of the places you could do these circulation exercises…home, in front of the computer, television, sewing machine, hospital bed…  work, in front of the computer, copier, lunch bench.

You know, it really is possible to work your calves while sitting; and your thighs, but that is an advanced exercise…at the beginning, just concentrate on your feet as they pertain to your circulation.   Sit in your favorite seat and put your feet upon your favorite footstool.  Now, move your feet back and forth, keeping your heals in place; one foot at a time or both feet together, vary it; one foot out to the side, then the other, then together.  Flip on your favorite television station and watch t.v. while you exercise.  The time will really fly by and before you know it, 15 minutes of exercise has been yours!  Also, you’ll have a better attitude and circulatory system for it.  You will begin to notice an increase in your blood flow a feeling of slight heat in the cheeks, remember that feeling?  Now, go fast or go slowly, just go and do it.  Move those feet!

We carry ourselves upon them all day for decades, so move them around for the rest of your decades.

You see, no matter your physical status or mental state, when you receive the news for the first time that bed rest is in order, and that you are out of “athletic shape”, you begin to think and analyze.  And there is one thing you know for sure, you know that you need to move your blood and your body in order to begin the healing process.

Your blood is your oil, without it, your body seizes and ceases.  Your blood needs to travel in your veins with freedom of movement; hence no plaque should be on your arterial walls because it could become dislodged and stick somewhere else.  Your blood needs to flow swiftly; if it rushes too quickly through your veins, and your heartbeat is ‘caffeine’ fast, the diagnosis is more than likely, high blood pressure.  Any way you look at it, your blood, or oil, is not at peak performance.

In order to begin the road to health, we need to circulate well.  We need to be hydrated and we need our blood to move.

So, when all else fails you, move your feet.  Whether or not you are bed ridden for a week or so, or stationed at a desk all day, move your feet for as long as you can.  Get that circulation moving.  Move them while at a Board of Directors meeting or while at your favorite luncheonette; lift your heals, then the balls of your feet; just lift them and get moving to better health.

The circulatory system is so important.  Just ask a surgeon what he does after surgery.  He’ll tell about the "boots".  He’ll tell you that after surgery you’ll have the circulation boots snuggly placed on your calves by a nurse.  They’ll be velcrowed around your calves and then turned on.  They’ll pump.  They pump pressure onto your calves whereby they pump your circulatory system into motion.  They put these boots on you to insure circulation because they are extremely aware of the possibilities of an embolism, a piece of dislodged plague, free-floating in your body and getting stuck thereby causing a blockage.

Since I have come to know about circulation exercises, I have noticed the boots for sale to the general public for a very inexpensive price…hmmm the gift of circulation…how much is that worth?

My life is worth everything.  I have not only begun the circulatory feet paddling as I type this, but as I sit I am also working my thighs as I pump and paddle my legs.

It’s so easy to do.  Just keep it going as long as you can and then by the end of the day have 20 minutes of it under your belt.  Think of it as the new “multi-tasking”.  Think of it as the no excuse health routine.  Think of it.  Then do it.  Circulation.  It’s the beginning of a great routine.

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