Movement is not an activity. It is a way of life.
We are not made to sit all day and then drag ourselves to the gym for an hour to make up for it. Our bodies are made to move: to walk, bend, lift, carry, climb, work and get back up again.
At Claud du Moine, we therefore don't try so much to exercise as to live actively. This makes movement a natural part of the day, rather than something we have to make time for.
Our gym is 6 hectares in size
There is always something to do here. Working in the garden, pruning, moving wood, making compost, looking after the animals, doing repairs, building or fixing something, maintaining the house... None of this is sport, but it certainly asks something of our bodies.
We walk, stand, bend, twist, lift, push and pull. We sow, plant and harvest. And often, we do these things for a large part of the day. On top of that, there is walking, and regularly jogging or running. Not because we are pursuing a sporting goal, but because it feels good to be outside and to get the body moving.
The idea is simple: our bodies need to be able to keep up with our lives, even as we get older.
Move every day
Our most important rule is therefore: move every day. Not necessarily intensely, and not necessarily for a long time. Just regularly. A large part of our movement simply comes from everyday life: gardening, household chores, looking after the animals, sawing or stacking wood, doing repairs, taking the stairs, walking and cycling.
The World Health Organization also takes a much broader view of physical activity than sport alone. Walking, cycling, physical work and household activities all count. The WHO also recommends that adults get enough moderate or vigorous physical activity each week and do muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days a week. We find that a useful starting point: not thinking only in terms of exercise sessions, but in terms of an active life.
Stay strong
Daily movement is important, but we also need to consciously maintain our strength. As we get older, we lose muscle mass and strength more easily. That is why we do strength training twice a week. No complicated fitness programme and no obsession with weights. Just exercises that work the major muscle groups: pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, standing up and squatting.
And every day we do a short core exercise: the plank. Not because the plank is some kind of miracle exercise, but because it has become a simple habit that gives us a moment each day to pay attention to our bodies.
Walking counts
Walking may well be one of the most underrated forms of physical activity. You don't need to be sporty, follow a complicated programme or have any special equipment. You can walk to get somewhere, with the dog, to do the shopping, to clear your head or simply because it is beautiful outside.
Just like taking the stairs instead of the lift, getting up after sitting for a long time, walking to the garden or taking the bike for a short ride. Small movements may seem insignificant, but over an entire day and over a lifetime, they add up to a big difference.
No regime, just consistency
We don't want a training schedule that ends up dictating our lives. We want a rhythm of movement that fits into everyday life and that we can maintain for many years.
So:
• move every day;
• walk regularly;
• jog or run from time to time;
• do strength training twice a week;
• do a short core exercise every day;
• move as much as possible during ordinary work and daily life;
• and allow enough time for rest and recovery.
The goal is not to become as fit as possible. The goal is to stay fit enough for the life we want to lead.
Moving for later
We don't exercise to stay young, nor are we trying to achieve a perfect body. We move so that we can remain independent and active for as long as possible.
Strength, fitness, mobility and balance become increasingly important as we get older. We want to still be able to walk, travel, garden, work, explore and enjoy life ten, twenty or thirty years from now. That is why movement doesn't have to become an obligation. Above all, find movement that fits your life and that you enjoy. Walk because the weather is beautiful. Work in the garden. Get on your bike. Go for a faster run from time to time. Train your muscles. Get up regularly if you have been sitting for a long time.
And if you don't manage it one day? No problem. There is always tomorrow.
No fitness lifestyle. Just an active life.
And ultimately, the message is very simple: Move, move, move. Not as an end in itself, but because we want to be able to take part fully in life for as long as possible.