Conserving Life’s Energies
97
of food. The liver is burdened in its effort to cleanse the blood of
impurities, and illness is the result.
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Those whose habits are sedentary should, when the weather will
permit, exercise in the open air every day, summer or winter. Walking
is preferable to riding or driving, for it brings more of the muscles
into exercise. The lungs are forced into healthy action, since it is
impossible to walk briskly without inflating them.
Such exercise would in many cases be better for the health than
medicine.—
The Ministry of Healing, 240
.
No Exercise Can Take the Place of Walking
Those who are feeble and indolent should not yield to their inclina-
tion to be inactive, thus depriving themselves of air and sunlight, but
should practice exercising out of doors in walking or working in the
garden. They will become very much fatigued, but this will not injure
them. You, my sister, will experience weariness, yet it will not hurt
you; your rest will be sweeter after it. Inaction weakens the organs that
are not exercised. And when these organs are used, pain and weariness
are experienced, because the muscles have become feeble. It is not
good policy to give up the use of certain muscles because pain is felt
when they are exercised. The pain is frequently caused by the effort of
nature to give life and vigor to those parts that have become partially
lifeless through inaction. The motion of these long-disused muscles
will cause pain, because nature is awakening them to life.
Walking, in all cases where it is possible, is the best remedy for
diseased bodies, because in this exercise all the organs of the body
are brought into use. Many who depend upon the movement cure
could accomplish more for themselves by muscular exercise than the
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movements can do for them. In some cases want of exercise causes
the bowels and muscles to become enfeebled and shrunken, and these
organs that have become enfeebled for want of use will be strengthened
by exercise. There is no exercise that can take the place of walking.
By it the circulation of the blood is greatly improved.—
Testimonies
for the Church 3:78
.
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