Psalm 119

I was thirty years old before I began appreciating and even enjoying exercise. It’s a long story as to how I arrived, but what I discovered when I got there is obvious: there are numerous approaches to moving one's body, and all are beneficial in their own ways.

Yoga is a great way to work on strength of mind and body by ways of increasing strength, mobility, and breath work. Running, cycling, and swimming are excellent ways to test the cardiovascular system, and lifting weights has been proven to strengthen bones, muscles, and connective tissue. All are forms of exercise, but all have different benefits. 

Can you reach your fitness goals by utilizing only one mode of exercise?

It depends on what your fitness goals are and the level at which you begin, but a healthy and well-rounded athlete doesn’t train in one specific way day in and day out. If an athlete only runs and never works on mobility or resistance training, they run the risk of injury and will never know their full potential as a runner. Similarly, an athlete who only lifts heavy weights and never stretches or works their cardiovascular system couldn't be considered well rounded. Flexibility and breath work are important, but if a yogi never puts their mobility and breathing to the test in a CrossFit workout...are they even fit, bro?

Can you reach your spiritual goals by utilizing only one way to enjoy scripture?

The psalmist who wrote Psalm 119 loved the Word in lots of different ways, and that can serve as a great example for us. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find myself bored with my Bible reading plan. That’s always my cue to mix it up and come at it from a different angle! A follower of Christ who only ever skims the chapter headings in his/her Bible will never develop into a well-rounded Christian. Likewise, one who only ever studies historical texts and commentaries may never understand the nuance of putting a psalm to music. One who easily commits scripture to memory but never truly understands what it means is missing out on something vital.

It’s wise for each of the aforementioned athletes to utilize each form of exercise to benefit their overall performance, and it’s wise for Christians to ingest scripture in different ways. How can you make room for a change in your routine today?