My Outlets: Exercising and Writing
Variation, Analyzation, Building
I exercise about 5 days a week, a mix of cardio, weightlifting, calisthenics, and yoga.1
I jog sometimes, but I don’t consider myself a “runner.” I hate it. Years ago when I started jogging (on the advice of my physical therapist), people would say, “You’ll grow to love it.” Two decades later, and I still don’t.
Running and biking, even outside, are repetitive. It’s just moving the same muscles in the same way over and over. I do enjoy an intense hike, such as climbing to the top of Table Rock (my favorite day is when I climbed it twice in one day).
But I like lifting weights, and even some calisthenics. The motions vary a lot, even in a 20-30 minute workout. Plus, some of what I choose to do is a mental exercise for me. I have to analyze what I am trying to accomplish — which body parts, which motions, which variations of exercise — to maximize my growth, recovery, and health.
I can also see the effects of building on something. I am adding to what I did the previous workouts, as my muscles grow stronger, and I see how I can/must continue to add and grow.
It reminds me of why I like writing. Most of what I write is built on what I’ve written or spoken about before. I’m adding to it. I’m building. I am always learning, and I want to grow.
And (as you can tell if you scroll through my posts), I write on a variety of topics. That may not be the recommended strategy for blogging (or is it substacking ?), but it’s better for me. And whatever I write is a way for me to process and analyze what I am learning and experiencing.
All this to say: Thanks for reading whatever is coming out of my brain!
I have a yoga mat, but not yoga pants.