I just looked up and realized that this Sunday's Bay to Breakers race will mark the end of what's turned out to be the shortest Physical Fitness Month in history. I have tried to keep those magical three letters on my lips whenever the choice to walk the stairs or take the eleveator comes to mind, but the truth is that i haven't gotten into the best shape of my life this year, and Sunday's 12k run will probably leave me hobbled and sore for the next few days.
I'm excited to report that i have ventured into new territory with my personal health and fitness this month by trying acupuncture to help with some neck pain and soreness in my back. I was surprised to learn that a lot of work can be done by poking around in the ear lobes (and all this time i thought they were just there for decoration!). I was slightly less surprised to learn that being needled in the ears is extremely painful (that's how you know its working, they'll tell you). Anyway, after the fun of getting jabbed in the ears arms hands legs and feet, i was left to rest for twenty minutes and during that time i experienced a feeling of lightness in my body that made me feel as if my entire body had turned to wind. During a later session, i noticed a stubborn irritation in my throat and it seemed that cool clear water was rushing from all points in my body to heal my throat. Results may vary but my neck and back feel much better now.
Hope your insides have a sunny day,
K
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
WEAK 2
I'll be the first to admit that for me, PFM week 2 has been remarkably weak. One yoga class, a little late night bike racing through the city, and thats about it for the huff-and-puff. Not having the free time to workout made me wonder, who even needs a gym when you can just not work out?
Someone pointed out how much energy is used to keep a gym running, to maintain all the running machines, lighting, temperature control, water and towels and other amenities, and asked the question of how environmentally friendly our workouts are? It just feels a little odd to live in Northern California and pay someone to maintain a venue where i can run in place or ride a bike nowhere while breathing air from a ventilation system and getting nothing done on my farmers' tan. (I realize there are some PFM'ers who swear by their fake n'bake but i assure you even that can have its costs.)
Back to the question: should we just stop working out? Maybe. There are certain things in life that muscles are really good for, like good posture and balancing, and the ability to climb stairs and lift things. The muscles that help with these tasks are mainly those in the abdominal and lower back or core region, and we can work those out by lying on the floor and doing some crunches. Bust 50 or 100 of your favorite variety in 2 minutes and see if you don't feel more on top of your game.
While gyms offer lots of fitness options, i like to remember that by being active and eating a reasonable diet, its easy to feel good and cruise at a comfortable level without making each fitness experience all about the gym.
Improvise,
Jeff
Someone pointed out how much energy is used to keep a gym running, to maintain all the running machines, lighting, temperature control, water and towels and other amenities, and asked the question of how environmentally friendly our workouts are? It just feels a little odd to live in Northern California and pay someone to maintain a venue where i can run in place or ride a bike nowhere while breathing air from a ventilation system and getting nothing done on my farmers' tan. (I realize there are some PFM'ers who swear by their fake n'bake but i assure you even that can have its costs.)
Back to the question: should we just stop working out? Maybe. There are certain things in life that muscles are really good for, like good posture and balancing, and the ability to climb stairs and lift things. The muscles that help with these tasks are mainly those in the abdominal and lower back or core region, and we can work those out by lying on the floor and doing some crunches. Bust 50 or 100 of your favorite variety in 2 minutes and see if you don't feel more on top of your game.
While gyms offer lots of fitness options, i like to remember that by being active and eating a reasonable diet, its easy to feel good and cruise at a comfortable level without making each fitness experience all about the gym.
Improvise,
Jeff
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