Last night I watched Les Mis and the opening scene is hundreds of men manually pulling a huge boat into dock it got me thinking about the standard gym, “Man, what a bizarre place.” I think that if our ancestors were transported to our time and saw us sweating away, running on the treadmills like hamsters on a wheel, stacking weights on our shoulders and pulling cables, they’d think we were slaves or prisoners, forced to labor against our will. Long ago people got their exercise from their daily labors, walking and plowing and fixing and building. It is a strange part of our modern existence that we must schedule in an hour of time for our body to move since we are almost completely inert for the other twenty-three. Ok so how can I get my exercise if I don’t schedule “gym” time? Here are two great ideas:
1.Do your chores the old fashioned way. Modern technology has made our lives increasingly comfortable and easy. Yet it has also removed almost all work and thus exercise from our lives. Sometimes it’s better to turn down the new advancements and do things the hard way to stay in shape. When it snows in the winter, get out there and start shoveling away.
2.Combine exercise and recreation. Working out doesn’t have to be chore. Instead of spending your time going nowhere on the elliptical machine, take up an active sport. Several times a week when weather permits spend your lunch hour playing ultimate frisbee, which if you have tried, you know is not for the faint of lung. Or during the winter get involved in a dodge ball league that meets weekly indoors. Find a sport you like and look around in your town for an opportunity to play in intramural or pick-up games.
