Physical Activity:

The Importance of it Ualzonha Byron Abeita

Isleta Pueblo Navajo Nation Mescalero Apache

Personal Connection

I decided to choose this topic because I have always enjoyed doing some type of physical activity. I have always heard that physical activity is good for you but I never really researched on how it actually benefits you mentally, physically, and emotionally. I wonder if people knew all the benefits of physical activity, would they start exercising. The leading causes of death for native americans are diabetes, heart disease, and chronic liver disease, physical activity can help prevent those and make our communities healthier. I would just like to share something i love to do with other people and show them how fun it and be.

Research Log 1-Identity

Constant would be a good word to describe me because I always feel like I’m working towards something. I could be working to meet a school deadline, a relationship, something to do with sports, and many more things. I think I’m a very hard working person when I put my mind into it. I also think I’m a kind person and I try to treat everyone well because I know how it feels to be treated wrongly or unfairly. I try to be the best version of myself everyday even when it is hard.

In the article “Sharing One Skin’’ by Jeanette Armstrong, it talks about the four selves and how they all come together to be one. They are all important and we use them all. The physical self is how your body interacts with the outside world. The intellectual self is what comes up with ideas and thoughts and helps us make decisions. The emotional self helps us feel and make bonds that we need to really thrive because what is life without relationships. Then the spiritual self is the last thing that we usually notice last, we notice this when we are aware of the other selves.

In this article Toastie talks about how memories and stories give us memories or have special meaning to us. Some of the stories can bring up bad memories or good memories. He really goes into how stories tie with the land. Special landmarks always have a story and some of those stories carry historical trauma.

In the story “And Then I Went To School” by Joe Suina he compares his tribal community to the school and how much they differ. He was forced to leave his culture at home and was expected to act civil at school. Suina felt uncomfortable, confused, scared, and hurt. To have your culture be taken away from you must be heartbreaking. After school, he went home and felt uncomfortable there too because he was used to white man’s way of living.

Armstrong, Jeanette. 1996 “Sharing One Skin: Okanagan Community.” Pp. 460-470 in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds). The Case Against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books.

Toastie, B. 2022 “How place names impact the way we see landscape’’. High Country News: Know The West. www.hen.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape/.

Suina, Joe. 1985 “And Then I Went To School: Memories of a Pueblo Childhood.” Wol. V, No.2, New Mexico Journal of Reading.

rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/.

Lovato, Thomas. "Braves Basketball". November 2023

Research Log 2- History

In the CDC article I read, we get told that our bodies were made for physical activity and that physical activity is a natural activity. We then learn that we can live long healthy lives with consistent exercise and a healthy diet. Lastly we learn about past civilizations, communities, and tribes practicing different type of physical activity and how impactful they were. Some practices that are still done today are tai chi, yoga, running, and many more.

In the Harvard article, the first thing that is introduced to us is that obesity results from energy imbalance like too many calories in and too few calories burned. Physical activity can help play a big role in balancing energy. Next we get to know about the benefits of physical activity, it can lower the risk of chronic diseases, boost your mood, and can help with everyday activities. After that we find out that there is a global obesity epidemic and that chronic diseases are showing everywhere. In the end, Harvard recommends that adults at least workout 2 and 1/2 hours per week and kids 1 hour per day.

The last thing I did for my Research Log 3 was watch a video. In this video we get to know more about the benefits of physical activity. For example we learn that physical activity can prevent diseases and strengthen your muscles and bones. Blaine, the creator of this video, states that there are mental benefits too. Physical Activity can help fight depression, help you sleep better, and improve your brain health that can help prevent dementia. Lastly Blaine tells us that physical activity can help us have a better social life and help us connect with people.

CDC. "Physical Activity and Health". November 17, 1999. https://www.cdc./needphp/sgr/summ.htm. Oct 20, 2023

Blaines, David. "Why is exercise important?". July 18, 2023. bupa.co.uk/news/room/ourviews/benefits-of-exercise. October 20, 2023

Obesity Prevention Source. "Physical Activity". Harvard. October 20, 2020. hsph.harvard.edu./obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/physical-activity-and-obesity

Research Log 3-Current State

A group of college students in Australia conducted a study that showed different levels of physical activity knowledge is associated with physical activity behavior. The group tested their hypothesis and it was correct. The more someone knew about physical activity, the more they exercised. This was not the case with less knowledgeable people, they worked out less. So group thinks that more promotions about physical activity and the benefits of it would make people want to exercise more.

Physiopedia states that there are global issues that cause physical inactivity. So we need to understand the global issues to understand physical inactivity. There can be poor or unsafe access to parks or recreational centers. Sometimes urban planning has very little regard for encouraging active lifestyles. Environmental changes related to urban living discourages physical activity.

I watched a News channel, BBC World News with Hollie Grant discussing inactivity levels in society. Hollie Grant said that global inactivity is a huge problem. Physical Inactivity is the 4th leading risk factor for mortality. Physical Inactivity can cause disease and conditions that lead to death. Higher Income countries are more Inactive when it come to physical activity which is a big surprise. You would assume that lower income countries would be less active, but being inactive can kill.

BBC World News. "Hollie Grant and Physical Activity". November 20, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/world

Physiopedia. "Physical Activity". November 20, 2023. https://www.physio-pedia.com/home/

Research Log 4-Global Connections

The National Academy of medicine first talked about how Natives is the race dealing with the most health problems. They then explain what is causing these health problems. After we learn what the problems are, the article starts talking about how healthy Natives were before contact with Europeans and before U.S. involvement. The U.S. basically did the Natives wrong in so many ways and the effects of that are still seen today. Now native communities are trying to heal and fix what the U.S. caused to have healthier communities again.

NPR talks about Kenyans and how they are super good long distance runners. NPR specifically talks about Kalenjin tribe. Scientists and Sports gurus say there are a lot of reasons as to why they can run so efficiently, from genetics to their daily life activities. They also talk about how the tribe are mentally tough. Their initiation ceremony is so brutal that it teaches the people to endure loads of pain without flinching or even making noises. Because of their painful ceremony, they are able to run through pain without stopping.

In the youtube video about the Tarahumara tribe, we learn about the general things about them. They are a running tribe from the Copper Canyons of Northwestern Mexico. This tribe are some of the best runners to ever exist. They can run for hundreds of miles in one session which is insanely impressive. They even run in their traditional clothing and their sandals. To the people, running is a form of prayer, it is sacred to them.

Native American Communities. "Investing in Native Communities." Feb 10th, 2024. https://nam.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/PAandNativeCommunities.pdf

Warner, Gregory. NPR. " How one kenyan tribe produces the world's best runners". November 1, 2013. https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/11/01/241895965/how-one-kenyan-tribe-produces-the-worlds-best-runners

MemeScythe. Youtube. "The Tarahumara" March 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnwIKZhrdt4

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