Move How the new science of body movement can set your mind free

Typical adults allocate about 70 percent of their time to sitting or lying still. This "descent to seatedness," writes science journalist Williams (My Plastic Brain, 2018), not only harms our physical health; a sedentary lifestyle can also negatively affect mental functions. Humans evolved to be constantly on the move for good reasons, such as avoiding danger or seeking rewards (food and shelter). In her conversations with scientists and "expert movers," Williams constructs a convincing case for the positive influence that bodily movement has on the brain in the way motion alters how we think and feel. All sorts of movements do your mind a big favor: walking, running, tai chi, dancing, playing at school or home. Staying physically active safeguards cognition and may boost creativity. Darwin and Nietzsche incubated some big ideas while taking walks. Even the simple act of physically moving ahead through space confers a sense of purpose and progress. The message here is fundamental and vibrant: movement is marvelous, highly beneficial for body and mind. So why are you sitting around?