Have You Moved Enough, or Exercised Enough?

        Have you ever felt the urge to hum while walking down the street, swaying your body slightly to an internal rhythm—without any particular reason, simply because your body felt like it? Yet, even such simple impulses are often suppressed. The melody is swallowed before it leaves the lips, and the rhythm dissolves into measured footsteps. In this way, natural movement gradually disappears from our lives.
 

When Only “Exercise” Remains

        Today, our movements are increasingly confined within the structured framework of “exercise.” Only activities with designated times and spaces—such as gym workouts, pilates, or running—are recognized as legitimate forms of movement. With the rise of health and self-care trends, the number of people engaging in regular exercise continues to grow. According to the National Sports Participation Survey, the percentage of people who chose running as their primary physical activity rose from 4.8% in 2024 to 7.7% in 2025, a 2.9 percentage point increase. Gym attendance and consumption of fitness-related content have also surged. Participation in recreational sports such as hiking and swimming has increased overall, reflecting a clear societal shift toward exercising for personal well-being.

        Ironically, however, overall physical activity in daily life is declining. Time spent sitting continues to increase, and even movement itself is minimized within highly convenient environments. As a result, we find ourselves in a paradoxical state: we exercise, yet remain largely inactive throughout the rest of the day.

Why Have We Stopped Moving?

        One reason lies in the nature of modern life. Studying, completing assignments, and working part-time jobs are all predominantly sedentary activities. Movement is often seen as inefficient and is gradually eliminated. Convenience-oriented systems—such as elevators and delivery services—further reinforce this pattern. Sleep deprivation and fatigue also contribute to reduced physical activity.

        This decline in movement is also tied to psychological mechanisms. In social psychology, the tendency to regulate one’s behavior based on others’ perceptions is referred to as “self-monitoring.” In public spaces, individuals internalize standards of “how they should appear” and suppress behaviors that deviate from those norms. In other words, our inability to freely move or sway in public may stem from deeply ingrained habits of self-observation and self-censorship.

The Fundamental Meaning of the Human Body and Movement

        Yet the human body is inherently designed to move. In his book *Exercised*, Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman explains that humans evolved to perform essential movements—walking, running, digging, and carrying—as part of survival. The concept of “exercise,” however, is not a product of evolution. Our bodies are designed to move actively when necessary and conserve energy when not. The problem is that, in modern life, this necessity-driven movement has largely disappeared. Activities such as walking, carrying, and climbing have been replaced by cars, elevators, and delivery services, leaving our bodies with fewer reasons to move.

        At the same time, small bodily rhythms—subtle sways, unconscious gestures—are not trivial actions but expressions of sensation and emotion. Neuroscientific studies show that when we move in rhythm or engage in repetitive physical activity, the brain releases neurotransmitters associated with positive emotions, including dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. These chemicals help stabilize mood and reduce stress. In particular, when music, rhythm, and physical movement are combined, the brain’s reward system becomes activated.

The Limits of a Sedentary Life

        Prolonged sitting, in particular, directly impacts the muscles around the pelvis. The gluteal muscles, which make up a significant portion of the body’s musculature, play a crucial role in connecting the upper and lower body and supporting the spine and pelvis. When sitting for extended periods—especially while leaning against a backrest—the activation of the gluteus maximus decreases. As a result, other muscles, such as the hamstrings or lower back, compensate during movements like walking or lifting the legs.                

        This condition, often referred to as “gluteal amnesia,” can weaken pelvic and spinal support, potentially leading to conditions such as herniated discs or hip impingement, while also increasing the risk of falls due to compromised balance.

        Additionally, when the iliopsoas muscle—which directly connects the pelvis and lower spine—becomes shortened and stiff, it can cause anterior pelvic tilt, often resulting in lower back pain.

        The phenomenon known as “sitting disease” further highlights the risks of prolonged sedentary behavior, linking it to cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and reduced lifespan. Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic, who popularized the concept, famously stated, “Sitting is the new smoking.” He emphasizes that not just intense workouts, but non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)—energy expended through everyday activities such as standing or cleaning—is a key determinant of metabolic health and body weight.

        Crucially, regular exercise alone does not fully offset these risks. One hour of exercise cannot compensate for more than ten hours of inactivity. Ultimately, the problem is not a lack of exercise, but a lack of everyday movement.

Cultures That Preserve Movement

        There are cultures where movement remains a natural part of daily life. In Brazil, for instance, it is common to see people spontaneously move their bodies when music plays. For them, dance is not a performance but a way of responding to emotion and atmosphere. Samba, one of Brazil’s most iconic dances, originated from African cultural traditions and has been documented since the 19th century. Today, it is widely associated with the Rio Carnival. In open settings such as streets, bars, or family gatherings, music often leads to spontaneous movement. Similarly, partner dances like forró and sertanejo are practiced socially, while younger generations embrace styles like funk carioca, moving freely to the rhythm. There is even a song titled “Everything ends in samba.” Dance, in this sense, lies at the heart of social interaction and emotional expression, transcending age and gender distinctions.

        In Hawaii, hula offers another example of movement as an inseparable form of life expression. Through gestures and body movements, hula conveys the meaning of songs—the curves of the hands represent waves, while the rhythm of the feet reflects the flow of the earth. Traditionally rooted in rituals, storytelling, and community gatherings, hula continues to serve as a medium for preserving cultural memory. For practitioners, movement is a language that connects nature and life itself.

        Across these cultures, movement is not something to be controlled, but a natural mode of communication. Perhaps what we need is not more structured exercise, but an environment and mindset that allow us to use our bodies more freely.

What Are We Suppressing?

        Perhaps we are suppressing our most fundamental instincts. To move, to respond, and to express are among the most basic human capacities. Restoring small movements in daily life is not merely a matter of health—it is a process of reclaiming our senses and expressing ourselves through the body. What we need today is not more exercise, but more natural movement.
 

Park Seo-won(Planning Editor)
sparkttha1@soongsil.ac.kr