12/04/2024

'We weren't made to sit still,' says Adriana Camargo.

“The body was made to move, we were not made to sit still.” It was with this important reminder that physical education and yoga teacher Adriana Camargo began her lecture on health and well-being, which ended with a yoga class at IMPA. The event, held this Friday (12), marks World Health Day, celebrated on April 7.

“Our bodies suffer greatly from the time we spend still, inactive. Our brains too. Physical activity helps us think faster and better. How we eat and exercise affects our quality of life and our longevity. Everyone wants to live a long time, but nobody wants to live with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or in a wheelchair, right?” the professor emphasized.

To IMPA staff and students, Adriana highlighted that the so-called metabolic syndrome is one of the greatest pandemics we are experiencing, despite not being called a disease. The syndrome, which can be prevented through physical activity and a healthy diet, is associated with a general mortality rate twice as high as in the normal population and a cardiovascular mortality rate three times higher, according to data from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The syndrome is characterized by a cluster of diseases whose basis is insulin resistance and is related to the development of heart disease, dementia, cancer, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, among others.

Regarding the topic, Adriana issued a warning: the possibility of developing metabolic syndrome is not always related to an individual's weight. “I have two students who, upon undergoing tests, discovered they were overweight, even though they weighed little. To be thin, you need a low percentage of body fat. It's not your size that determines it. I can weigh 100 kg and be thin,” explains the professor, who took the opportunity to clarify that fat is not the villain in nutrition. “It's part of cell membranes; we need fat to survive. It also functions as an energy reserve,” she concluded.

Drinking at least two liters of water, consuming protein, and taking appropriate supplements are some of the measures to ensure proper brain and body function, in addition to regular physical activity, including yoga – a practice that involves well-being on mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.

After the lecture, the audience was invited to participate in a class that took place on the IMPA rooftop. The practice included posture and relaxation exercises. The yoga mats were loaned by the NGO Artes de Viver.

Ana Luisa de Sousa Machado, coordinator of Institutional Communication at IMPA, highlighted the importance of the activities. "We take advantage of some important dates – such as World Health Day – to promote internal actions at IMPA and highlight relevant issues. In today's event, in addition to the lecture, we were able to provide researchers, students and staff with an experience in the practice and philosophy of yoga.