-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Swayze <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sat, 30 May 2009 8:09 am
Subject: Paleo Writing Exercise


 
>>Ok, so what about exercise?  Surely we’ve got it right that one needs at least twenty minutes a day of aerobic exercise several times a week?  Wrong.  Ancient man exercised briefly and intensely one to three times a week.  [Develop].= <<

Depends on your definition of exercise.  There has been some interesting research published in the last few years about the value of non-exercise physical activity or, rather, the damage done by sitting.  I remember reading somewhere, years ago, that aboriginal people all over the world spend one in five of their waking hours singing and dancing.  There are also gathering activities; building of biggish things like drying racks and temporary shelters; setting and checking traps; and just plain playing.  Ancient man didn't spend most of his day sitting.  As for ancient woman, aerobic exercise may not have been a part of her life at all, but unless small children were different then, she was physically active many hours per day.

Also, the research I've read about sitting (a couple of examples linked below) didn't look at all at squatting, which was often the preferred resting posture for people who didn't build furniture.  I also doubt they looked at sitting on flat surfaces vs. sitting on chairs.  It could be that ancient people hardly ever sa
t the way we sit even when crafting.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0610-stand_up_for_your_health.htm
http://research.missouri.edu/news/stories/071116_sitting.htm