Slow is smooth…

There is a saying in swimming: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Simply put, you are better off having a slow, technically sound rhythm, which makes for smooth motion in water, rather than rushing through your movements (and splashing about a lot more, which is NOT smooth), because ultimately smooth movement through water will make you go fast.

This saying applies to life in general. Better to act in a “slow” (read: planned, thoughtful, methodical, mindful) way, which will cause you to do whatever you do smoothly, and ultimately to complete projects and tasks faster than if you rush through and must correct mistakes and re-do the work over and over again.

And, of course, it applies to fitness and health as well. (Otherwise, I would not be writing this post.) Though, to bring the point home, I might re-phrase it thus:

Fitness is daily, daily is healthy.

Basically, putting yourself through grueling workouts 3 or 4 times (or more?!) per week, thereby risking injury and burning-out, can be counter-productive. Especially if the rest of the time you minimize your activities, sitting on your chair at work, on your couch at home, and in your car in-between.

Don’t get me wrong: working out hard can be a lot of fun. And it can serve the purpose of preparing your body for big events like running a 10k, doing a triathlon, etc., which are extra-ordinary demands to put on your body. And working out hard can be a great feel-good moment in your week. But if it is unsustainable, it becomes like yo-yo dieting, and that’s not healthy for your body.

The key to fitness that leads to long-term health, ultimately, is to have good, steady habits on a daily basis. It is everyday fitness that will protect you from having to re-start a training program over and over again because each time you do it becomes overwhelming, or you end up hurting yourself.

So be slow, be smooth, be steady in your activities. Be an everyday athlete. And increase your odds of being healthy for a good, long time.

…smooth is fast.

Photos from Pixabay.