Evolutionary Fitness: Using Our Ancestral Past to Shape Our Modern Workouts
In today’s world, technology has made it easier to stay fit, with numerous workout options available at your doorstep. From HIIT to CrossFit, Zumba to Yoga, and Pilates to strength training— all the resources are at your disposal to get in shape. But, have you ever considered using your evolutionary history as a means of shaping your fitness routines?
Yes, that’s correct; you can use your ancestor’s lifestyle to configure your training in a way that better aligns with their activities. Our prehistoric forefathers were hunters, gatherers, and farmers, with a lifestyle tailored to their environment and needs. Let’s delve deeper into how we can use this knowledge to shape our modern-day workouts.
Understand the Wilderness
Our ancestors roamed the plains hunting for food and water; they didn’t have the luxury of living this fast-paced digital age. They had to traverse wide-open spaces, rocky terrains, and dense forests to catch their pray. Compare that to how we live our lives today, where we move from home to work and back, maybe doing a quick workout at the gym and returning to our sedentary lifestyle.
So, how do we incorporate such challenges into our fitness routine? We can start by including exercises that simulate the environment our ancestors faced. Hiking in a natural environment, trail running, and other obstacle-based workout regimes can provide excellent benefits to our bodies. By taking workouts outside, we can imitate how our ancestors had to adapt and navigate harsh and changing environmental conditions.
Functional Workouts
Our ancestors didn’t have modern-day equipment, apart from a sharpened rock or stick. They were accustomed to carrying heavy loads, running, or climbing trees without any support. Survival was paramount, and the body had to adapt accordingly.
Introducing functional workouts, where the workout is specifically created around activities that involve our everyday movements, can be a great way to incorporate the demands of a primitive lifestyle in your modern workout. For example, carrying heavy bags, chopping wood, climbing stairs, etc., are all aspects of our everyday life that can be turned into a workout routine. It can help improve our neuromuscular response (brain-to-body communication) and improve overall fitness.
Nutrition and Lifestyle
Our ancestor’s diet was radical compared to the modern diet we adopt today. They were naturally low-carb and high-fat diets, and they ate when they were hungry, didn’t have processed foods or refined sugars’.
Introducing a similar diet, such as the Paleo diet, can be an excellent source of fuel for your workouts, but it’s important to also incorporate other elements of your lifestyle. Our ancestors had good sleeping habits, woke up early, and didn’t rely on caffeine or other stimulants. So, incorporating those habits in your life can be hugely beneficial for your overall fitness. You can also practice mindfulness, meditation and do yoga or other relaxation exercises to help the body recover.
Conclusion
By understanding how our ancestors lived, we can shape our athletic routines around their exercise and diet habits. With modern-day technology, it is easier for us to adapt our workouts and nutrition to better fit our lifestyle. By focusing on what our ancestors ate, how they had to move their bodies to survive, and how they had to withstand their environment, we can create a unique experience that optimizes our overall health and fitness. Evolutionary fitness not only improves our physical strength but can also impact our emotional and psychological well-being.
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