The Joy of Movement Read online

GoodGym, 30–34

  Gormley, Ivo, 31

  The Great Dance: A Hunter’s Story (film), 21–22

  green exercise

  biophilia, 156–57, 169–72, 178

  effects on the brain of, 160–61

  effects on the brain compared to drugs, 165

  fast-acting benefits of, 157–58

  feelings of prospect and refuge, 166

  forest-walking as treatment for depression, 156

  Green Gym, 172–74, 175–77

  Susan Heard’s outdoor runs to combat grief, 154–55

  Maura Kelly’s outdoor walk to escape depression, 157–58

  outdoor aspect of all long-distance races, 188–89

  psychological benefits of, 155–57

  soft fascination, 162

  spiritual experiences, 165–68

  Stanford University study of the effects of a nature walk on brain activity, 160

  Green Gym, 172–74, 175–77

  grief, 154–55, 178

  grooming behaviors of primates, 78

  Groopman, Jerome, 147

  groove, 97–98

  group exercise

  author’s dream of becoming a group exercise instructor, 1–3

  collective effervescence, 68–69

  development of new activities, 94–95

  GoodGym, 30–34

  social support of, 26–27, 80–81, 214–15

  Susan honoring Henry as an example of a community created by exercise class participants, 80–81

  as a way to combat depression after the Great East Japan Earthquake, 90–91

  Hadza tribe of Tanzania

  activity levels within the tribe, 12–13

  evening activities, 29

  hunting and foraging lifestyle, 12

  meat pirating experience, 11–12

  overall health, 13

  sharing and cooperative behavior, 28

  Haefele, Nora, 44–47

  happiness

  Dartmouth College happy songs and happy animations experiments, 111–13

  exercise-induced euphoria, 9–11, 18

  happy music and joyful movement, 111–13

  from movement, 3–4

  taking pleasure in the activities that help us survive, 6

  “Happy” (song), 111

  Harvie, Robin, 181, 185

  “Hava Nagila” (song/dance), 112

  Head of the Charles Regatta, 209–11

  Heard, Daisy, 178

  Heard, David, 153–55, 178

  Heard, Susan, 153–55, 178

  helping others

  within the animal kingdom, 133–34

  Hurricane Harvey, 91–92

  Hurricane Katrina, 92

  Hurricane Sandy, 174–75

  unexpected heroes, 133

  yoga class response post-9/11, 72–73

  hope, 144–45, 147–48, 181, 190, 193

  “hope molecules,” 5

  Howell, Andrew, 166–67

  Hustle Chicago (charity event), 89

  Hutchings, Pete, 172–74, 177

  Iditarod Trail Invitational, 181

  instincts

  the desire to move when music is heard, 97–98

  taking pleasure in the activities that help us survive, 6

  International Space Station crew members’ nature deficit, 169–71

  irisin (“exercise hormone”), 191–92, 194

  Ironman World Championship, 185–86

  “It Is Well with My Soul” (hymn), 187–88

  Jane (author’s twin sister), 57–59, 84, 136

  Jazzercise Dance for Life charity event, 90

  jiujitsu tradition of sharing gear, 29

  Johnson, Pamela Jo, 136–37

  joy

  feeling, showing, and sharing, 117–18

  universal demonstrations of, 111–13, 213–14

  Julia’s story (older woman with a runner’s high from daily exercise), 18

  Karageorghis, Costas, 101–5, 108–9

  Kauai Marathon, 188

  Keeping Together in Time (McNeill), 85

  Kelly, Maura, 157–58

  ketamine, 160–61

  Khoudari, Laura, 137

  kickboxing, 61

  kinaesthetics of togetherness, 74–75

  King, Martin Luther, Jr., 107

  Kissin, Benjamin, 47

  Kohles, Caroline, 80–81

  Kombol, Nolan, 128–30, 130, 132–33

  Konesni, Bennett, 100

  Langwane, Karoha, 21

  Lanman, Jonathan A., 205

  learned helplessness, 130

  Lehrer, Jonah, 148

  Lieberman, Daniel, 10

  Lister, Craig, 172, 175–76

  Loland, Sigmund, 212, 213

  The Lure of Long Distances (Harvie), 181

  Maasai warriors of Kenya jumping dance, 113

  MacPhee, Amara, 105–8

  Maisel, Remy, 33–34

  Man’s Search for Himself (May), 171

  Marajó Island, Brazil

  carimbó dancing, 69–70, 94

  dance experiment, 71

  Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, Japan, 206–7

  marching, 85–87, 98–99

  Marcora, Samuele, 40

  Martin, John Joseph, 149

  May, Rollo, 171–72

  McGonigal, Kelly

  dream of becoming a group exercise instructor, 1–3, 75–77

  exercise as a way of coping with anxiety, 60–61

  exercise-related anticipatory pleasure, 48–50

  insights gained in nature about terminally ill cat, 167–68

  king pigeon yoga pose and its impact, 140

  lessons learned from various exercise forms, 2

  maternal grandparents’ love of dance, 118–21, 123

  photos and stories collected, 209–12, 214–16

  McNeill, William H., 85–87, 95

  meditation, 159–60, 162

  Melbourne, Australia, tree communications, 168–69

  mental health. See addiction; anxiety; depression

  Merrifield, Cathy, 125–26, 129, 131

  methylphenidate, 40

  Midway charity events, 90

  mindfulness, 156, 162

  Miriam’s story (Parkinson’s disease sufferer who exercises to music), 113–14

  Mitsunaga, Endo, 206–7

  modafinil, 40

  Morris, Hamilton, 23–24

  Moses, Edwin, 102

  motivation of early humans, 15–16

  movement

  the desire to move when music is heard, 97–98, 121–22

  the emotional power of, 2–3, 212–13

  and happiness, 3–4

  happy music and joyful movement, 111–13

  physical activity as self-care, 161–62

  sympathetic response to, 148–49

  as a way to connect to others, 7, 212–13, 215

  as a way to fulfill core human needs, 6–7, 214

  muscular bonding, 85–86

  music

  the brain’s response to hearing, 98, 100, 117

  custom playlists for athletes, 101–5

  Dance for PD program at Juilliard, 113–16, 117–18

  the desire to move when music is heard, 97–98, 121–22

  effects of music on cardiovascular stress test results, 100–101

  ergogenic nature of, 100

  groove, 97–98

  happy music and joyful movement, 111–13

  to help encourage rehabilitation, 107–8

  as inspiration to keep moving, 98–99, 110

  lyrics that emphasize perseverance and de
termination, 103–4

  as a performance-enhancing drug, 101

  power songs, 103–4, 107

  to reduce team conflict, 108

  therapeutic effects of, 120–23

  work songs, 100

  myokines

  “hope molecules,” 5

  irisin (the “exercise hormone”), 191–92, 194

  role of, 191–94

  National Study of Daily Experiences, 24–25

  natural selection

  of animals who hunt or scavenge, 17

  favoring within-group cooperation, 28

  foraging cognition skills, 163

  physical traits that helped our ancestors run, 14–15

  nature

  biophilia, 156–57, 169–72, 178

  collectively cared-for green spaces, 174–77

  Green Gym, 172–74, 175–77

  International Space Station crew members’ nature deficit, 169–71

  Melbourne tree communications, 168–69

  NASA recommendation of gardening for psychological health, 171

  old friends hypothesis, 171–72

  outdoor aspect of all long-distance races, 188–89

  social capital built through gardening, 174–75

  nature-harnessing, 93, 95

  Nia movement form, 80

  90K Comrades Marathon, 181

  Norris, Katie, 137–40, 149–50

  old friends hypothesis, 171–72

  Ostovar, Roya, 86

  Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11

  outdoor exercise. See green exercise

  pain tolerance

  synchrony’s effects on, 72

  when experienced with others, 205

  Palermo, Devon, 141–44, 145–46

  Parkinson’s disease

  Dance for PD program at Juilliard, 113–16, 117–18

  facial masking, 116, 117

  Israeli patient able to run because of his wife’s support, 145

  Miriam’s story, 113–14

  symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, 116

  partner carry movement, 137–39

  Passmore, Holli-Anne, 166–67

  Perry, Thomas O., 177–78

  persistence as a requirement for survival, 21–22

  persistence high, 17–18. See also runner’s high

  personal space, 75, 94

  Peters, Andrew Fusek, 161–62

  Pettit, Don, 170–71

  Pharr Davis, Jennifer, 185

  physiological effects of exercise

  in the brain, 4–5, 62

  “hope molecules” secreted into the bloodstream, 5

  pleasure gloss, 47–51

  Pollan, Michael, 166

  Pontzer, Herman, 11–13, 15–16, 27–28

  power songs, 103–4, 107

  primate grooming behaviors, 78

  proprioception, 134–36, 149

  The Pursuit of Endurance (Pharr Davis), 185

  Quicke, Jenna, 204–5

  Radcliffe-Brown, A. R., 70–71, 77, 94, 112

  Raichlen, David, 15–17, 30

  Redmond, Derek, 202–3

  resilience, 91–92, 190–91

  reward system of the brain, 52–54, 64–65, 159

  Richter, Joachim, 86

  Rimonabant (weight-loss drug), 23–24

  Rivera, Victor, 129

  rock-climbing

  author’s fears of, 198–201

  Terri Schneider’s fears of, 197–98

  Rocky (film), 99, 104

  Roll, Rich, 165

  Rosati, Alexandra, 163

  rowing

  Head of the Charles Regatta, 209–11

  Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11

  “rowing cocaine” sound, 67–68

  synchronization required for, 67–68

  rubber hand illusion, 74

  runner’s high. See also persistence high

  benefits of, 24, 34–35

  described, 9–10

  evolutionary explanation for, 16

  increase in social bonding, 27–28, 35

  Julia example of an older woman with a runner’s high from daily exercise, 18

  maximization at a jogging pace, 17

  origins in early ancestors’ lives, 10–11

  from other exercise of moderate intensity, 17–18

  in other sports, 10

  as the temporary reward before bigger goals, 22–23

  The Runner’s High (Sturn), 9–10

  running

  Antelope Island ultramarathon, 179–80, 185

  and the feeling of belonging, 34–35

  First Strides, 178

  GoodGym visits to socially isolated people, 31–33

  in a group setting, 25–26

  Susan Heard’s outdoor runs to combat grief, 154–55

  Jogging over a Distance app, 81

  Joggobot robotic jogging companion, 82–83

  physical adaptations for optimizing, 15

  Raichlen’s treadmill experiments, 16–17

  research to breed mice as super-runners, 54–55

  as therapy for Jody Bender, 20–21, 22–23

  ultrarunning, 182–83, 204–5

  Ruth’s story (stroke survivor with a Wall of Greatness goal achieved), 142

  Sacks, Oliver, 98, 121

  Sajche, Oscar, 91–92

  Salazar, Bernie, 122–23

  San Pedro Manrique, Spain, firewalkers, 133, 205

  Sapienza University study of physical activity’s effects on sharing, 29–30

  Schneider, Terri, 195–201

  sedentary behavior, 13–14

  self

  expanded sense of, 75–76

  self-concept, 134–37

  self-care, 161–62

  Senerat, Araliya Ming, 127

  sensations

  of effort, 105

  of your body’s movements (proprioception), 134–36, 149

  sensory cues, 47–51

  sharing

  cooperation high, 28–29

  Hadza tribe of Tanzania, 28

  Sapienza University study of physical activity’s effects on sharing, 29–30

  Sheth, Amit, 34

  sleep quality and exercise study, 37–38

  Snyder, C. R., 144

  social connections

  five circles of connection, 78–79

  of group exercise, 26–27

  as an important function of collective joy, 78

  Jane’s running group 10K example, 84

  primate grooming behaviors, 78

  running and the feeling of belonging, 34–35

  support of family and friends, 145–46

  and virtual reality, 83–84

  soft fascination, 162

  Sogge, Kimberly, 68, 73, 79, 209–11, 213

  space, the nature deficit while in, 169–71

  Spafford, Horatio, 187

  Spartathalon, 180, 185

  spiritual experiences

  author’s insights gained in nature about terminally ill cat, 167–68

  Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, Japan, 206–7

  while in nature, 165–68

  Stanford Dance Marathon, 109–10

  Stanford University study of the effects of a nature walk on brain activity, 160

  strength

  demonstrating that you can handle more than you thought you could, 137–39

  finding a strength you didn’t know you had, 138–40

  thinking of physical action as a way to support yourself, 139–40

  Sturn, Dan, 9–10

  support

  importance of family and friends, 14
5–46

  Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, Japan, 206–7

  Derek Redmond’s father’s show of support at the Olympics, 202–3

  required by endurance athletes, 203–8

  social support of group exercise, 26–27, 80–81

  Susan honoring Henry as an example of communities created by exercise class participants, 80–81

  sweat, differences in odor, 94

  sympathetic response to movement, 148–49

  synchronized movement

  in the animal kingdom, 86

  as a defense tactic, 86

  effects on participants as well as observers, 87

  experiments with sounds of synchronized footsteps, 86–87

  in humans, 92–93

  Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11

  synchrony

  between the instructor and students in a group exercise class, 76

  moving in, 71–72

  rubber hand illusion, 74

  virtual reality avatars, 83–84

  Szabo, Attila, 38

  Tarr, Bronwyn, 69–75, 83, 89, 93–94

  teamwork

  Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11

  required for Tough Mudder obstacle course challenges, 131–32

  technology

  creating a community not limited by proximity, 81

  Jogging over a Distance app, 81

  Joggobot robotic jogging companion, 82–83

  Peloton classes, 82, 85

  versus real-life contact, 84

  virtual reality and social connections, 83–84

  Terhaar, Terry Louise, 166

  ter Kuile, Casper, 79–80

  Terra Australis Bike Epic, 180–81

  THC, 24

  Thompson, Ian, 47

  305 Fitness, 106, 107–8

  Thurston, Angie, 79–80

  “Till I Collapse” (song), 103

  time

  depression and the perception of, 184–85

  passage of time during an ultra-endurance athletic event, 185

  required for developing an exercise habit, 42

  Title IX, 46

  Torres, Christina, 187–88

  Tough Mudder obstacle course

  Arctic Enema challenge, 129

  Block Ness Monster challenge, 131–32

  the decision point, 129–31

  Electroshock Therapy challenge, 128, 129–31

  Everest challenge, 132

  first impressions, 127

  habanero pepper challenge, 128

  Hold Your Wood challenge, 132

  Cathy Merrifield’s experiences, 125–26

  obstacle design, 128–29

  Pyramid Scheme challenge, 132