Holistic Approach to Exercising

In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of exercise often conjures images of gyms, treadmills, and organized fitness classes. For those who wish to engage in some physical activity amid school, jobs, errands, household activities, and a plethora of other responsibilities, getting to the gym for a quick workout is our means to staying fit. 

Have you ever visited or lived on indigenous lands and tried to go on a jog in a rural or urban neighborhood? Have you seen local people stare in utter confusion as to where and why the jogger is running?

Many indigenous cultures around the world have forged a deep connection with physical activity through their everyday survival activities. This can include hand washing clothes, preparing food from scratch outdoors under the hot sun, collecting firewood, collecting drinking water, farming, hunting, and walking from destination to destination rather than using other modes of transportation. Unlike modern exercise routines that can feel detached from real-life applications, indigenous physical activities serve practical purposes that can be sustained throughout a person’s life, even into eldership. 

Conveniences supplied by modern technology are reaching indigenous communities too but many balk at the use of some advancements, recognizing the dehumanizing effects and the increased laziness and dependency created by such modernities. Instead of using cooking gas, one may welcome the challenge to collect firewood and build a fire. Rather than catching a ride in a car, one may prefer to walk miles to a destination. Rather than machine washing clothes, one may prefer to hand wash the same. 

In a tradition built on the understanding: “If it was good enough for our Ancestors then it is good enough for us,” as well as the added awareness that the uphill or challenging path builds quality and character for the human being; it is no surprise that those practicing Kemetic traditions will take the route that presents less convenience and comfort.  

This holistic approach to movement not only sustains their communities but also nurtures a profound understanding of the relationship between human beings and their environment. Movement is not simply a physical endeavor; it encompasses a holistic approach to well-being. Daily activities engage the mind, body, and spirit as one works towards his or her evolution and the delicate harmony between our existence and the preservation of the nature we live and depend upon. The holistic approach to well-being is a sustainable approach that future generations can depend upon to build themselves and the environment that supports them.

Visit us in West Africa where we engage in everyday survival activities while living harmoniously on the lands and with the communities that have preserved indigenous Kemetic traditions for generation upon generation.