Flexibility, Feeling Our Future

I have long noticed that flexibility is a key indicator of health. How is that?

Think about it. When a person is overweight, they have lost flexibility. When a person has arthritis, they have lost flexibility. When our spine is out of alignment, we have lost flexibility. When we are ill, our bones ache and we have lost flexibility.

One of the primary benefits of tai chi or yoga is that they restore flexibility. Research done with old people who were taught tai chi showed marked improvement in a person's quality of life. One of the first things they noticed was the return of flexibility.

Being able to move freely is a good indicator of health. Flexibility and movement are all about coping with situations in life.

Flexibility in terms of mental readiness is also a sign of health, offering us an opportunity to be agile enough to deal with the situations in life that are changing so that we can choose the best course of action for ourselves.

Even simple exercises like walking and swimming can help us regain both physical and mental flexibility. In any area of your life where you feel a need for progress, feel for the spot that is stuck and can use some flexibility.