Fit is not healthy

In the age of social media, many people train for a body they perceive looks attractive to other people. Since coming to the West, I’ve noticed that many fit people aren't healthy. And many people whose body looks good on the outside, aren't well on the inside. When a student first comes to train with me, I ask them to throw away the scales, the smartphone, the mirror and train for the pure motivation of inner and outer wellness. What matters most? Health or looking good?

Gym Training has its merits but it doesn't address the whole body. This means training internally as well as externally. 

A weight trainer’s body is muscular but tends to be stiff. A weight lifter will usually be unable to do the splits. Their range of movement will be limited and slow. A yoga student will be flexible but ask them to do the Health and fitness  tricks and there will be no stamina or explosive power to their kick. 

Why are splits important or being able to kick?  Even if you can't do the splits, it's good to attempt them because it opens up the hips and the legs. Combining dynamic stretching with static stretching is the best way to increase stamina. Combining explosive movement with slower movement and anerobic training with aerobic training gives alertness to the body. It’s highly tuned.  

A Shaolin Monk trains all the time. When we punch, we do punch meditation, when we kick, we do kick meditation, when we eat we do eating meditation.  Eating mindfully has been found to help with digestion and even weight loss. Mindfulness has become very popular recently because it's been shown to prevent anxiety and depression. There’s nothing complicated about it. We simply connect our mind, body and heart into a whole and then we feel whole. We are no longer distracted and looking for something to complete us. We are already complete. 

But how can you implement a Shaolin Monk’s wellness into your life? As you continue in your week, stay connected - not to what’s happening on your smart phone - but to what’s happening in your heart, mind and body. Be aware of any distraction. This is all energy going outward. When our mind and body are stable, energy naturally returns.

 [source= http://shifuyanlei.blogspot.in/2016/05/fit-is-not-healthy-shaolin-monks-guide.html]