Gerry Duffy: Well-being is all about DIY

"How were you in the days after our first class?" the instructor enquired. "Very sore," came an honest response. "Great," replied the instructor. Both understood the logic to her summary. The student was new to yoga and embracing the philosophy - after a period of inactivity - to take responsibility for her own well-being. I have learned that every day - in the area of nutrition and exercise/physical mobility - our bodies are making note of how well we look after it.

A dormant few years meant the muscles in the student's body had received quite a shock to the system.

The teacher knew the value though. That is why she had a philosophy that the soreness was to be welcomed. The muscles had being reawakened.

Muscles need to be worked. The soreness was perhaps a measure of how little she had done for the previous two years. On that first night, they were expressing anger at having to work again but soon that anger would turn to gratitude as value was added to her own health system. Therein lay the logic.

Interestingly, another clue of note was an admission from the student. "Even with the soreness, I have felt wonderful for the past week. I now have flexibility that I haven't had in years."

I have never forgotten the words of retired cardiologist Risteard Mulcahy. In this publication two years ago, he stated: "If you don't use it, you'll lose it."

He was talking about physical mobility and the importance of exercise.

The yoga student was learning this, which is why her muscles were sore.

Perhaps unbeknown to her, she was slowly, over time, losing her flexibility and range of movement.

Have you ever sat on a sofa for many hours? Then when you stand you are stiff as a poker. Well this yoga story is just a magnification of this.

Our long-term well-being and mobility is hugely assisted by things we do. If we don't use our muscles, they become inactive and slowly to asleep. The longer they remain inactive, the harder it is to wake them up.

Anybody who does yoga, pilates, aerobics, circuits class or similar, will reaffirm the theory that in the first few weeks, they feel soreness. As the classes and weeks pass though, so too does the discomfort. It is replaced with increased mobility, a more flexible body and a happier disposition.

Last week I read about a 91-year-old who continues to be a yoga instructor.

Her secret in being able to do so is simple.

It is that she has continually worked her muscles all of her life.

And that's the message. Well-being does not come to us. We must go to it. Use your body. Stretch your muscles.

Do a class. Walk, run, swim, bike, hike. Do something that gets you moving and flexing your muscles.

Otherwise, if you don't use it, you will lose it.