Yoga, Running, Spinning and Lifting...OH MY!

I'm an exerciser. I love to participate in regularly planned, structured physical exertion. I make it to the gym most days, but also understand that my life is one of luxury. I do not have children, I have enough financial resources to afford 'workout outfits', shoes, a gym membership and the other 'accoutrement' that accompanies this very white, non-child, middle class, able-bodied approach to exercise. I also appreciate that these values are NOT the values of all people and that the way that my values and status position me is NOT a more valuable position than that of others. Meaning, I do not think that people who do not do movement the way I do movement are lessor people or doing less to care for themselves than I do.

That said, I've tried a few classes at my new gym and have used their machines several times. I am happy to report a return to yoga! I attended a 'beginners' course in yoga on Sunday last with great success. I left feeling like I worked, but not like I had damaged myself (as I have in the past). I also attended a cycling class last night and did not enjoy it as much as a) other cycling classes I have taken, or b) as much as I enjoyed the yoga. I am happy to report that I am running again (regularly even) and strength training every other day. Slowly I am getting back to my regular 6-days a week routine and feeling strong and healthy again.

Like my sister my daily movement is also influenced by lots of walking. Unlike my sister, this walking is not in a lovely high desert community, but in an interesting urban landscape where I trek to trains, bus stops, office space and dog parks (to ensure that my small dog gets her daily movement as well!) multiple times a day. I sometimes think that this movement is among the most important in my day...even more than my 90 minutes at the gym.