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[The Fourtneen Dreams of Lady Trishala
according to his physical strength. When nature herself is restless and active, it is no exaggeration if one says that no being can live or grow without physical exercise. It is not binding upon intellectual people only that they should take physical exercise, but even new born children cannot live without it. Birds and beasts do take exercise, trees and creepers feel its influence and smallest creatures are found exerting their limbs for the sake of health. When physical exercise is so universal in its effect, it would not be out of place if we say a word or two in its favour.
Exercise is an exertion of body or limbs. The act of exerting the whole body is called ordinary exercise, while that of exerting a particular limb is called 'special exercise' As it is said above, physical exercise is in vogue everywhere in this world. Where athletics practise it in the form of 'Dandas' stretching the body like a staff, 'Baithaka' (sittig on the legs again and again) and wrestling, The newly born children are seen doing the same by moving their limbs and crying for nothing in the arms of their mothers. The beasts observe this rule by roaming and running in the forests. Birds digest their food by flying in the air and by stretching and flapping their wings. Only those trees, plants and creepers are healthy and yield fruits and flowers in abundance which get enough of light and air for their growth and thus find an opportunity to move their limbs. Small insects creep and hum which is nothing but a sort of exercise for their little limbs.
Nature has evolved the system of physical exercise mainly with the object of helping digestion and making the body healthy, symmetrical and strong. Maharshi Vagbhata,
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