Torture. Just plain torture. Miles and miles of drudgery on what has got to be the most boring piece of exercise equipment ever invented. Well, now that I think about it, I take that back. That dubious honor really belongs to the Elliptical Machine. Could there be a more uninteresting piece of apparatus? A session on that thing makes visiting my Dentist a virtual fiesta. But, I digress. Back to the treadmill. I've always hated it and therefore don't spend a lot of time on it. I use it only when it is absolutely a necessity. If it's 115 degrees out or other hazardous weather or I need to get a quick workout on and I'm already at the gym or recently on vacation in Barcelona because it was accessible. What's not to hate about the treadmill or as my friend Ken calls it "the dreadmill." For starters: there's no scenery, no sounds of nature, I'm not really going anyway, someone invariably always seems to be talking on the treadmill next to me...and the list goes on and on. As does the treadmill session. Endless monotony. The longest I have run on the treadmill is 10 miles and those 10 miles moved by as quickly as the year when I was a little girl and I thought 12 would just last forever! Never ever to see my dream age of 13.
Which brings me to my next point. Who would create such a torture device and why? I thought I knew the answer to this question. But I'm a curious girl. Must be the Libra in me, if I believed in Astrology. So, for moments like this, God created Google. I thought there would be a rational explanation for the invention of the treadmill. After all, indoor cycling has a rational invention. Johnny G created Spinning because he wanted to be able to train indoors on days that he could not get an outdoor workout once he started to have an expanding family. Makes sense. This I can embrace. I was expecting this to be the rationale or something close enough to this for it's sister machine. Turns out, I was not even close. Google led me to my go to resource Wikipedia and what Wikipedia had to say totally blew me away:
"Treadmills were historically used as a method of reforming offenders in prison, an innovation introduced by Sir William Curbitt in 1817."
Now this was starting to make sense to me. Who else but the prisoner with time on his hands or no means to run outdoors would really be attracted to the sameness of treadmill running. I can't help but laugh out loud since I've often thought of my time on the treadmill as a prison sentence. Who knew I was this close to the truth of it all all along?
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch CHANGES!
I don't think anyone really understands how hard it is for me to give up one of my classes. Invariably, Life happens. Movement happens. Change happens. I am always more than a little reluctant of letting go. There are people in my classes that have been there for as long as 17 years! That in itself is a testament to the longevity of the bonds that I have been able to forge with so many of you over the years. I don't take for granted the space that many of you hold in your hearts for me and I treasure every moment of the times that we have been able to spend together. The real joy of teaching for me is watching the progression that happens from day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year. I am not a parent, but I do feel parental elation at seeing the growth that can happen, in and out of the classroom, if you let it.
I am committed though as I approach my 47th Birthday to really push the envelope in terms of my own growth and development. This means that I too must Move more quickly. Grow more quickly. Change more quickly. The sadness sits with me a little this week as I make the announcement that I a giving up 3 of my classes. What really sits with me more than that is the absolute pure joy I have had with each and every one of you in those classes and how much our times together will always be remember. I challenge you and I've challenge myself to embrace change and to appreciate the blessing of what you have in the moment. Everything changes. For the better I think.
And so is the mixed emotions for me this week of letting go as I embrace new challenges. One of my students, Kathy Supove (an amazing musician), sent me the nicest email that expressed how happy she is that I am making space in my life for new things. She also writes: "It also gives us a Zen-like challenge: not only to appreciate and treasure what we've had (if it's even possible to do that more than we do already), but to make shifts in our own lives, now that we're left with what appears to us as a void".
Makes me tear up knowing that I have been this loved and appreciated. Thank you!
I am committed though as I approach my 47th Birthday to really push the envelope in terms of my own growth and development. This means that I too must Move more quickly. Grow more quickly. Change more quickly. The sadness sits with me a little this week as I make the announcement that I a giving up 3 of my classes. What really sits with me more than that is the absolute pure joy I have had with each and every one of you in those classes and how much our times together will always be remember. I challenge you and I've challenge myself to embrace change and to appreciate the blessing of what you have in the moment. Everything changes. For the better I think.
And so is the mixed emotions for me this week of letting go as I embrace new challenges. One of my students, Kathy Supove (an amazing musician), sent me the nicest email that expressed how happy she is that I am making space in my life for new things. She also writes: "It also gives us a Zen-like challenge: not only to appreciate and treasure what we've had (if it's even possible to do that more than we do already), but to make shifts in our own lives, now that we're left with what appears to us as a void".
Makes me tear up knowing that I have been this loved and appreciated. Thank you!
Monday, September 5, 2011
So Long Summer! Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out!!!
Ok. Truth telling time here. I'm not a fan of Summer. It is my least favorite season. For a girl who was born in Jamaica and lived there the first 7 years of my life, you would think that I would be fawning for Summer, but no way.
Almost everything about Summer is too much. Too much heat, too much humidity, too much of the smelly scents of NYC, too much minimalist clothing, too much of shirtless men roaming the streets with not so great bodies, too many people running in Central Park or anywhere else for that matter. Too much noise. Too many people outdoors. And the list goes on. Before all you Summer lovers bombard me with reasons why Summer is grand, remember...my blog...my opinion:). This Summer, I did the unthinkable. I ran in the Summer. Yuk! To avoid the blazing heat, I would run as early as possible or as late as possible. How do civilized people run in the middle of the day in the blazing heat and humidity? I had to do it a few times and my body felt like it was running while dragging Kate and her brood of 8.
So it is with absolute delight that September is here and Fall is on the way. Everything about Fall is fantastic! How I delightfully look forward to temperatures in the 40's, 50's and 60's. The changing of the leaves in Central Park. Fall Fashion. Pleasant subway temperatures. Oh, How I Love You Fall! Can't wait to see you...
And your distant cousin Winter... I'm excited just thinking about you. Long runs in the beautiful, crisp, cold air. That strong, decisive wind that awakens the spirit and lets you know you're really alive. The inevitable snowstorm. There's nothing more beautiful than NYC in the Winter! Except maybe NYC in the Spring!
Almost everything about Summer is too much. Too much heat, too much humidity, too much of the smelly scents of NYC, too much minimalist clothing, too much of shirtless men roaming the streets with not so great bodies, too many people running in Central Park or anywhere else for that matter. Too much noise. Too many people outdoors. And the list goes on. Before all you Summer lovers bombard me with reasons why Summer is grand, remember...my blog...my opinion:). This Summer, I did the unthinkable. I ran in the Summer. Yuk! To avoid the blazing heat, I would run as early as possible or as late as possible. How do civilized people run in the middle of the day in the blazing heat and humidity? I had to do it a few times and my body felt like it was running while dragging Kate and her brood of 8.
So it is with absolute delight that September is here and Fall is on the way. Everything about Fall is fantastic! How I delightfully look forward to temperatures in the 40's, 50's and 60's. The changing of the leaves in Central Park. Fall Fashion. Pleasant subway temperatures. Oh, How I Love You Fall! Can't wait to see you...
And your distant cousin Winter... I'm excited just thinking about you. Long runs in the beautiful, crisp, cold air. That strong, decisive wind that awakens the spirit and lets you know you're really alive. The inevitable snowstorm. There's nothing more beautiful than NYC in the Winter! Except maybe NYC in the Spring!
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