Our Hour

[shanmonster]

I got to see my mother-in-law briefly yesterday, just before I had to go off to lead a boot camp class. She asked me about the class.

"What do you do? Jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, and things like that?"

"Yes, pretty much. I have a variety of exercises and mix them up to keep the classes fresh, but lots of stuff like that."

She nodded. "How long are the classes?"

"An hour."

Her eyes opened wide. "An HOUR???" She fanned herself with her hand.

"Yup."

I wonder what she would think if she knew my own workouts usually take over an hour, and that there have been days (like in martial arts or dance) where I have worked out hard for five or so hours.

....

One of my art instructors (an older woman) was fascinated to learn I teach belly dance, and decided to sign up for my next session. She asked me what she could do to prepare herself for the class. I told her the best thing she can do is get used to moving around for an hour or so at a time.

"What sort of moving around?"

"Well, if you like yoga, dancing, calisthenics, or walking, those would be good. Anything, really. When I show you the techniques in class, you will be able to practice those. But until then, just get used to moving around."

"Ok!"

So the next week, she tells me, all excited, that she has taken my advice and feels great for it.

"What did you start doing?"

"I walk, now."

I'm glad she's walking. But at the same time, it makes me sad that walking, which I consider the bare minimum for exercise, and a great simple pleasure in itself, isn't something everyone does. (Everyone who is able to, of course.) I can't imagine not walking.

Comments

[fusty-cabbages.livejournal.com]

I consider walking an 'activity' not an exercise. It's something every healthy human being with legs should be able to do for a reasonable amount of time, like a KM or two. I term 'exercise' as something that is physically challenging and requires concentrated exertion.

If you are so unfit that walking is exercise, you're kinda failing at life.

I wish we could extend the medical term "failure to thrive" beyond newborns and the elderly.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Ever speed-walk? I consider that exercise.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Walking is often all I can manage for exercise when I'm sick, and sometimes even that's too much. I could barely walk when I was on propranalol, let alone do so much as a sit-up. When my asthma is in full bore mode, walking even a little shags me right out. But walking is better than doing nothing, and at least I'm getting my body moving, so yes, I do consider walking to be exercise, depending on the situation.

For a moderately healthy, able-bodied person, I believe it should be a basic part of everyday routine.

[zydee.livejournal.com]

Agreed; I have pretty bad arthritis in my back, so a walk is about all I can do nowadays. I have good days and bad days, for sure. But I do get in a good 3-mile walk a couple or three times a week. As long as it isn't super-fast-paced, I do all right.