Book review

Body Movesby Debra Daley Cico Books, 2010, 224 pages, $24.95 ISBN: 978-1-907030-31-4

There’s no denying it: our bodies are made for movement. Even if we don’t move very often, our bodily functions and systems cry out for us to get active. And that’s the premise of Body Moves: if we keep moving, we can improve our health and prevent illness.

Author and health journalist, Debra Daley, tells us that regularly moving our bodies in a vigorous manner will help lubricate joints and sweat out toxins. Movement also helps alleviate stress and anxiety while boosting the body’s immune system. It’s simple advice that makes sense—what more could we need? How about a host of specific, clearly explained exercises that target more than 50 common health conditions?

Body Moves segments its sage advice into chapters with titles such as “Heart and circulation” and “Digestive system.” Within each chapter the conditions are further broken down to specifics such as “Angina” or “Inflammatory bowel disease.” Readers simply turn to a specific health concern to find easy-to-understand directions and tips, along with other helpful information for combatting worrisome health conditions.

The book tells us which moves are best for targeting the offending condition— and why. A simple movement plan is offered that includes how often and how long you need to move to enjoy healthful benefits. There’s even a selection of therapeutic yoga poses, stretches, and weight-bearing exercises specific to different health concerns.

Chapter 12 deals with a fact of life we all face—aging. Daley tells us that research proves something as simple as daily exercise can actually make our DNA younger and healthier. It comes down to the length of our telomeres— the protective ends of our chromosomes. Short telomeres leave us more susceptible to disease. Regular physical activity can actually stop the natural shortening of these microscopic protectors.

If you want, or need, to get moving to slow aging and improve your health (and who doesn’t?), this clear, concise, and visually attractive book is the one for you. Filled with tips and easy-to-follow instructions, Body Moves really makes you want to, well...move your body!