The Perfect Starting Point: When and Where Does the Fitness Journey Begin?

Great questions. The truth is, there is no single path. Each person’s journey is unique, shaped by individual motivations and goals.

Some may see the path beginning when we make a sincere effort to value our health—when we confront and recognize the causes of sickness and suffering and choose to change our lifestyles by shifting away from negative behaviors.

Here are some ideas to inspire your journey:

Breathing Practices

Oxygen saturation and deep diaphragmatic breathing have numerous health benefits. Connecting to the breath can pull us out of our heads instantly. One simple technique is breathing in through the nose for six seconds, followed by six seconds out through the mouth as if blowing out candles. You can practice this anywhere—while walking or driving—guiding the breath with your diaphragm. The goal is to deepen the breath with each cycle.

This helps regulate the nervous system, promoting clarity during tense or stressful moments. Breathwork systems offer endless freedom, using breathing as a foundation for meditation and self-awareness. When we learn to breathe correctly, we can almost instantly restore balance throughout our bodies, especially during times of high exertion or stress. This allows for rapid recovery during sustained effort.

Hydration

Get a water filter—you deserve it. Add magnesium, salt, and other essential minerals to your water. Dehydration and hunger often feel the same, which explains why many people are both dehydrated and overweight or obese. Aim to drink a third of your body weight in liters per day. For example, if you weigh 100kg, aim for 3.3L per day, plus extra for exercise.

The body relies on liquid for every process, from digestion to reproduction. When dehydrated, it prioritises certain systems, often sacrificing others. Think back to your younger days when you’d spend entire evenings drinking alcohol, only to wake up feeling terrible. What if, instead, you dedicated that energy to ensuring your body gets the water and nutrients it needs? Next time you celebrate, try raising a glass of water—something your body can use rather than something it must detoxify.

Movement

They say life is to be born with a destiny. You may not believe in destiny, but through the law of cause and effect, we all have one. We need to move to fulfill it. As ancient hunters, every step had to be careful and deliberate to avoid injury or detection. Even today, we need to move. Getting in and out of cars, climbing stairs, or running to avoid danger. We may not know the details of our destiny, we can be sure it involves movement.

When we move incorrectly or carelessly, we create injuries, pain, and suffering. Eventually, we stop to think or search for solutions. Once recovered, we may forget the pain until it resurfaces. Life teaches us to move in a wiser, more mindful way.

Over time, I’ve learned how to move with efficiency and purpose, while still maintaining power and agility. This is called moving meditation; The highest form of movement and concentration in my view. While this may be an advanced goal, anything is better than nothing. Start slow and gentle, and enjoy the process of discovering new movements.

Training the body not only strengthens us physically but also stabilises our mental and emotional states. Movement systems can lead to new levels of freedom and joy.

At its core, training and developing the body is a practice of valuing health and fitness, daily. It’s the difference between facing the same problems repeatedly or learning to overcome them. Exercise teaches resilience, helping us avoid being controlled by impulses while stimulating vital nerve pathways. The best part? Exercise is free. We don’t need anything or anyone to benefit, only the wise choice, to begin.

Nutrition

Research the history of humans. Check out Dr. Weston A. Price’s book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, which examines the foods humans have consumed throughout history and the diseases associated with them. The Disease of Kings by Varis Ahmad is another eye-opening read. We are part of this earth and its food chain. The ability to understand which sources of nutrients work best for you is a personal journey of trial and error.

Anyone who hasn’t fully considered the effects of what they consume. Whether it’s what goes in their mouth, nose, or on their skin, hasn’t fully embraced some fundamental truths. Our bodies are the sum of every choice we make. Remember, we’re about 90% water, plus what we eat and breathe. Quality matters more than quantity.

Community

This is often underrated. The people we surround ourselves with influence our path. If someone near us thinks the healthier habits are strange, it can derail momentum. Having a community that supports and encourages wise choices is like a cheat code for success. Sharing knowledge and wisdom with others is more beneficial than facing criticism and objections.

What we have in life is far less important than who we have to share it with. Loneliness is a tough challenge for many, but having people who support our growth makes the journey much more enjoyable. Appreciate those who shine light and positivity on the path, they make the journey brighter and meaningful.

Toxins and Inflammation

Why work hard for your health and then undo it with poor food choices? We often fall into routines where health isn’t the most convenient option. The realisation that what we’ve been doing isn’t serving us can be confronting. For example, I once thought Nutrigrain was "Ironman food," only to discover it was mostly sugar with little nutritional value.

It’s overwhelming to sift through all the conflicting information, especially when some industries prioritise profit over health. That said, obsessing over every health decision can sometimes be more unhealthy than it’s worth. I’ve seen both disciplined people and those with poor habits live long lives. All I know is that I feel a thousand times better when I choose whole, high quality foods. That energy and vitality are unmistakable.

Over the years, I’ve also shifted towards natural materials, organic cottons, chemical free mattress and bedding, and water filters for my home. Though maintaining these routines is challenging, especially when traveling, I make an effort to live in a way that supports my body I’ll fast until I find actual food more often than eat because it is meal time.

Managing the cause and effect of our impulses and decisions around what we expose ourselves to is an essential part of maintaining health.

The Path to True Healing

Health is an optimal state of harmony, where mind, heart and body are balanced. Suffering, whether it’s depression, stress, fear, or illness, is a sign something is not aligned. Life  is about developing the awareness to rebalance ourselves. The first step is always to observe, learn, and try not to make the same mistakes.

Enjoy life, keep practicing what we’ve learned, and always stay open to new wisdom. The path is not in the end goal or destination but in every step we take, in each moment we experience.

True healing begins with treating and rebuilding ourselves. If our own system is broken, we can’t help others. Most practitioners learn methods that theoretically should work, but true effectiveness requires a foundation of logic and discipline. My ability to heal, built over decades, is rooted in that discipline. I’ve repaired injuries from rugby, surfing, and other accidents, and the only reason I’m still moving pain-free is because of the systems I follow.

Every moment is precious. Don’t waste a second in discomfort. Check out the Awareness Centre app. Develop new abilities to enjoy life again.