I don't like the gym. It wasn't a bad thing when I used to go with my mom a few times a week when I was a teen... after all, staying at home just meant more math homework or piano practice. But it was a part of my family's routine so in that way it was convenient.
In University I would go with various friends who were in a different faculty. It would be the few times a week I would see some of my close friends. Crystal and I also registered in a kick boxing class for a few semesters. That was pretty fun! Particularly because we got to practice attacking one another and defending ourselves. Our instructor told her she was strong enough to break somebody's ribs with her roundhouse kick.
Despite my being Chinese, I never received such a compliment.
Then no more gyms after a short stint the year after I finished my undergrad. Without the social aspect or integration into my routine, the gym just felt boring and chore-like.
Actually, there was one more stint when we got passes as alumni at the Saville Centre. The gym was un-busy, new, and close to the house. STILL. It was a big chore to put on gym clothes and go there just to lift weights and read wrinkly old magazines. Bleh. Boring. The only thing that kept me going was that Don and Dave used to come with me and we'd always get brunch afterwards.
The point is that I bike because it's transportation and fitness all in one. I'm all about efficiency. But I decided to take a pilates class over the summer to have some Miss Sarah time.
Actually, it was some class at the City Arts Centre that I was after, and pilates just happened to be available for the right price at the right time. Neighbours of mine take their daughter to the City Arts Centre for kid cooking classes! I figured it would be worth checking the place out.
Guys, I haven't worn stretchy pants on a bike since I was pregnant. And that was only in the latter part of the 3rd trimester. Check out this blast from the past:
This was my fitness cargo. Yoga mat. A small purse. Water bottle.
The class was good! The stretching alone was worth it. And nice to do something relaxing like that and get a workout too.
On our way out I noticed that one of my classmates also rode.
I love the power of even the smallest bungee chord.
And then I went and got a few items before heading home.
See?
Normal stuff. No car. No problem. No traffic.
Lots of fitness!
6 comments:
Sarah,
I've been reading your posts for over a year now, and I have to thank you for showing women that its fun, practical and stylish to ride a bike, and that using car free methods of transportation can open your eyes to the city around you. You're an inspiration (and one with great shoes, at that.)
-Sarah
Going to the gym sounds like a nice thing to do. I started to go jogging recently, although I always said that I hate running. Once you get used to it, it actually feels really good...
Riding a bike is sooo much better than the gym!!
I hate gyms, I hate being indoors, its like a personaly circle of hell.
But outside on the bike, no matter whatthe weathers doing? Much better. The best thing is you HAVE to keep going. Its easy to get off a treadmill but if your cycling home and you have to go up a hill to get home the hill isn;t going anywhere, even if you get off and walk you STILL have to clim the hill home!
I also love the feeling of purpose. I don't often go out for a "jolly" ride on the bike, but I love the feeling that I went town, brught groceries and still got exercise as well :)
My disdain for the gym is part of why I love biking, running and anything else I can do outside. I guess I'm not a social worker-outer either. The harder I'm pushing, the less I want to talk. The only times that I go to the gym is when we're having freakishly long stints of snow covered paths/streets. And that only happens every few years.
I'm with you on gyms. Other than an aerobics class in college and some time in my old apartment complex workout room, I've never been to a gym. They just seem ridiculous to me. I - like you - am all about living an active lifestyle. That's also why I love biking so much. I automatically get an hour of exercise every day. Before I started riding my bike, I did a lot of running, yoga and pilates. I liked pilates because it was something I could do while laying down. That was pretty cool. But now I can't image pulling out my old pilates DVD. Setting aside time to "work out" creates some unhealthy body issues for me, especially while staring at the women demonstrating the exercises on the TV. Maybe a class would be different. I would love to start going back to yoga class. Yoga always makes me feel better.
Totally with you on gyms. I like dance classes to keep me fit. I don't find the tiny bit of cycling enough to really make a dent! plus it is so amazingly efficient.
Ballet for length and shaping, plus yoga (pilates is awesome and really the basis of how to use and manage these bodies of ours, but something about the classes puts me to sleep...) and flamenco for sheer stamina plus perhaps learning how to look cross artistically and some mental and physical strength!
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