Part of the marvelous experience of taking some time off from work, is to relax and  (hopefully) let events slow down enough so that you can enjoy some of what are called life's simple pleasures. Me, I am the observer. I like to watch and then dissect and contemplate about what I had just witnessed, as though I were seeing it from some else’s mind or perspective.

Such was the case as my wife and I walked the beaches of Pacific Grove, CA. I had some time to enjoy the power of the ocean crashing against the quartz encrusted, massive rocks of the bay, and felt myself centering and sinking into just enjoying the moment of this beautiful land carved by the hand of God.

I started to notice the number of youth and seasoned veterans of life walking and jogging in the area, some with their dogs and some without, some with partners, some solo. As I watched, I noticed certain patterns evolved in their movement. As a Doctor of Naturopathy, a personal trainer and martial artist, I have been around exercise and movement for most of my life, but I started to really see and feel the differences in their workings of their bodies. This came to an epiphany, when I was on the rocks of the bay doing my daily Qigong practice. I looked to my right, and on down the beach I noticed and elderly man doing a combination of Qigong and Tai chi Chuan movements. It was then that I knew.

Our life is so dictated by sharp angular definitive appearances. The look we want in our own bodies in youth is sharp defined, muscular, ripped and physically powerful. Our leading men and actresses all strive for this “fit” athletic look that so defines acceptance these days. Our young people are so enthralled with this “thin is in” look that 10 and 12 year old have already developed eating disorders to look the “part”. For the first time in history, physically thin means “power and allure”.

As I went to the gym that day, I noticed how people move when they work out. Single plane movements of linear exercise resistance are all that are used in machine and in free weights. Set after set, repetition after repetition, all exercises are done in this same order. Our life appearances have now dictated our workout form and practice. This linear up and down motion, moving in one plane categorizes most of our exercise sessions. Even walking and running is utilizing this motion, even if it is an elliptical motion in some of the better trained. Lying in our beds at night sleeping, sitting in our cars driving to work as well as in our offices, we are all using one plane of motion for the most part.

How do we most often times acquire injury? Well if you talk to chiropractors or naturopaths who have to adjust these individuals after their injury, it usually involves some form of twisting. Twisting to get out of the car, twisting to lift and place an object overhead, twisting to get out of bed in the morning but all of it involves some form of trunk, neck or knee rotation.

What am I getting at here? Well think back to the elderly gentleman on the beach doing Tai chi Chuan and Qigong exercises. These movements involve a combination of linear and circular movement in their exercise form. A combination of both movements is superior to one singular plane. Why? Well in the real world, you are bound to do both kinds of movements eventually in your day, although people will go to great lengths to avoid circular movement if possible. You are only as strong as your weakest link and that usually is circular movement. Your form in your structured exercise program should prepare you for your day’s activities as well as keep you healthy and away from injury. Form meets function.

Another important point that sometimes we may not think about is that seldom, if ever, do we just move in one direction and then stop. We never just move into a position, stay there a minute or so and then move on to the next position. We are all too busy for that.  Even when we think we are being still, we typically are fidgeting and moving, (Just ask someone who has never meditated before to sit unmoving for 45 minutes or so!) We continuously move in a multitude of directions and our training of our body should reflect those directions.

Okay, so maybe now you are starting to think about your own daily movement patterns and, hopefully, your exercise program as well. Here are some points to consider in designing your exercise program for linear and circular health.

Count the number of linear movements in your current workout and then the number of multi-plane movements or circular movements. The number should be an equal one. If it is not then you need to add movements that are more circular. The number of circular movements is infinite, just as there are an infinite number of linear movements we keep inventing for exercise. The current singular wheels used for abdominal workouts come to mind as well as such devices such as Bowflex.

The Asian concept of allowing the inner ligaments and tendons to pull, rather than the muscle tissue itself may be new to you, but it is one to explore with a qualified teacher. By constantly using the muscle tissue the body overworks the muscles, which typically will acquire knots and tension. Movements such as yoga and tai chi chuan use this tendon and ligament training as their “secret” to maintaining strength well into their senior years of life. By allowing the tension to release within the muscles tissue and pull or push with the ligaments and bones through proper alignment, the body can move in a relaxed state with power.

Start to use your waist, trunk and hips in all that you do. Involve exercise and movement that rotate, gently twist and coordinate the core of your body with your foot and legwork. Incorporate the head, wrist, elbows and shoulders, with the simultaneous movement of footwork.  Remember that the core of your body is where all stabilization originates from and as you strengthen the core of your body, you strengthen your entire body as well as improve your overall balance and stability.

If we observe nature and its origin of power, we begin to understand perfection of the circle from the crashing of waves in the oceans, to the power of a tornado; we see the strength of circular movement. Our own bodies are not angled or sharp in form, from the very construction of a human cell, to the rounded curves in our arms, legs and trunk to the design of the human skull; all with the inherent strength of circles or curves.  Perhaps what nature, evolution and survival is telling us is that we need to move our bodies in more circular patterns to flow with nature, rather than to fight it in a straight line.

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