If you could go back in time to see how ancient cultures sat down, you’d notice that many sat upright on floors in the cross-legged position, kneeled, or sat with “tent knees” with their buttocks and feet on the ground, knees bent. These positions require a level of strength in the legs, glutes, and back, as well as balance and coordination. Only in relatively recent times have we employed the use of chairs and couches that have the unfortunate effect of putting the body in positions that lead to pelvic stagnation and reduced circulatory function.

The way we sit today is not ideal for our body’s natural mechanics, and it’s no wonder that we are increasingly finding ourselves diagnosed with “sitting diseases.” The connection between sitting in a seat for most of the day and developing serious maladies isn’t that difficult to make, in fact.

So let’s do a little experiment: Without worrying about how fast you’re moving, can you sit on the floor and then rise up to a standing position using as little support as possible? Turns out that if you can get yourself up from the floor using just one hand — or even better, without the help of any hand — then you’re not only in the higher percentile of musculoskeletal fitness, but you’re much more likely to live longer than those who can’t do this exercise. Put simply, the better you can do this task without relying on your hands for stability and support, the longer you’ll live.

When people ask for the “one piece of advice” that’s good for all three doshas, or body types, regardless of age or the season, refer to the legendary story of when Charaka, the father of Ayurveda, was asked the same question by a boy thousands of years ago. His response: “Wake up in the morning and go for a walk at sunrise.”

Today we know the power of such an activity on the body’s health and longevity. Although now we use high-tech words like “neuroplasticity” to describe how the brain positively responds to physical movement, the modern science has been known by ancient lore for a long, long time.

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Article Courtesy: http://www.mindbodygreen.com