The Power of Exercise
The Power of Exercise, developed by Barbara Edelston Peterson, is a guide to living well in these times – how to cope with feelings of being overwhelmed, overworked, overtired and unfulfilled. It encourages everyone to find joy and freedom in movement, to trust one’s own body and realize untapped personal potential. The message: find the right time each day to exercise, explore and discover what you like, commit to it, live it, love it, breathe it, be transformed by it. Let the experience of dedicating yourself to something so good move you through life.
The hardest part of exercising is saying ‘yes.’ Finding a way to answer the question: ‘Can I fit it into my schedule?’ with the reply: ‘Yes, I can’t go without it!’ is the mission of The Power of Exercise. The fact that exercising is so important for health, increased energy, brighter moods and lifelong fulfillment underscores the essential thesis of this way of life. A secondary mission is to help each reader (mother, busy professional, senior, girl, cancer survivor, disheartened griever, etc) find a way to fall in love with exercise, for inspiration and elevation in all aspects of life.
The value of regular exercise is omnipotent, and is the single best thing any individual (around the world) can do to promote positive well being. It fuels usable energy and naturally enriches the quality of life for people of all ages and circumstances. Its transformative quality reduces negativity, and increases a weakened state of being to a stronger body, mind and spirit .
The Power of Exercise is a winning prescription for all humanity: if more people exercised, the world would be a better place. A team led by Dr. Lykken from the University of Minnesota, discovered that we each have a happiness/productive set point – approximately 50% is genetically generated, the remaining 50% is learned. Further review of the literature and studies on happiness and productivity by a team of positive psychology researchers confirmed Lykken’s genetic findings and uncovered that of the remaining 50%, 10% is circumstantial – such as our level of wealth, marital status, and job. The other 40% is determined by our habitual thoughts, feelings, words and actions. What better way to create the greatest positive impact on this remaining 40% than by a daily workout to achieve all things positive?
This site and the related book series act as a symphony of my own exercise philosophy and experiences, anecdotal material from others who discovered empowerment through exercise, and the practical and technical aspects of fitness training. What makes each book so effective is that from a very simple idea: exercise every day, there is profound and widespread inspiration. The message is delivered authentically, in simple no-nonsense language with a level of enthusiasm, insight, and clarity that is captivating and infectious.
The Power of Exercise book series is NOT a fitness encyclopedia nor a weight-loss or anti-aging manual, nor just another book of ‘daily inspirations.’ It is a must-read guide for energizing yourself and encouraging the best possible lifestyle – one of deep personal fulfillment that produces meaningful consequences.
“Be moved. Be healthy. Be happy.”