Showing posts with label gym. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gym. Show all posts

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Prime

Slowly, I am regaining my mornings, now, welcoming the hour of Prime.

This seems just right as the earth tips into Autumn, a gentle easing through the predawn dark.
The darkness holds me as I check news and texts, lends a sense of ritual to making tea and putting on gym clothes. My trainers feel like a uniform as I secure the laces and walk out of the building with the first rays of light. 

This is my favorite time of year.

The air is a perfect chill, inviting me to walk around one block, then another, before going up the steps to the gym, the glass doors sliding open to spill cool light onto the concrete steps. Inside, the October greetings are quieter than summer greetings, but no less welcoming. Good morning, good morning, hi girl, good morning, good to see you our convocation litany invoking the new day and tolling the canonical hour. The laps around the track are walking meditations -- jogging seems reserved for brighter hours. The sun comes up fully as I leave the track and head to the steam room, the sauna, this restoration before I face the day's toils. 

There is reading, and then there is writing, but before either, there is tea, comfort in a cup as I kick off the trainers and shed the gym clothes, molting into my awake self, dropping the clothes into the washer. 

Reading.
Then writing.
Then, with a second cup of tea, the day begins. 

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Rabbit (y)ear(s)

Spent the morning at the gym with a friend and then we put together IKEA bookcases, had an amazing lunch, and then went out for ice cream and played chess.

May everything always be wonderful!


Saturday, January 11, 2020

Gym day

Something in my Spirit has shifted, though I'm not certain what. I know that the Wolf Moon Eclipse is supposed to be a big deal, releasing our wild side, but I feel calmer instead. More centered. Not sure what is up with that, but I'll take it.

I went to meeting Monday and asked for a volunteer to take me more often. Yesterday I texted one of the volunteers and it worked out (fourth time is the charm!!). At the meeting, I asked someone if I could start calling every day. Ever since I buried my sponsor last year, I d missed the visibility and connection. We talked last night, and then again while I walked to the gym this morning.

This week I texted an old friend that had been important but become alienated through bad communication and fear on both our parts. I thanked them for being in my life. We're talking again. It's nice. We could get hurt again, but even so it wouldn't be the end of the world. Living in isolation needlessly would be tragic though.

I can feel micro spasms -- around my eyes or near my temples -- and this is totally neurological. The headaches are mostly diminished, so even though I'm wiped out by ten in the morning, I can make the most of resting.


I walked to the gym. This is mild defiance on my part, since I'm not supposed to walk alone. But it's a managed rebellion, since I had someone on the phone the whole time. #AchievementUnlocked.

I swam 300 yards.

The plan these days is about doing it. Doing it fast is not the goal -- bonus points are for consistency and duration, but overdoing it is still bad. Right now the achievement range is 220-440 yards (1/8-1/4 mile). This is up from August (110-220), which was a step up from April (NotDeadYayMe!!)

Then steam room (to kill flue) and sauna meditation (blood pressure) and shower (clean is good). I love having a permanent locker at the gym.

On the walk home, I gave serious thought to the living situation. I might move, might stay where I am but in any case I need to purge My Land of a bunch of possessions which no longer fit my abilities (or lack thereof. It's kind of delusional to have scads of cooking supplies and equipment when I'm at the point of leftovers and takeout being onerously difficult.

So I took a deep breath and owned a situation that I don't like and that is getting worse by ignoring it. I texted a friend to get a crew together. Move everything out of the attic, haul away furniture etc. that I don't use, take donations to Goodwill.

Also I've asked for help with housework. It will either materialize or it won't. I keep sending out the call.

I heard from my thesis advisor. We've been talking about structure and assembly of the final draft. I'm hoping to get something to him before I leave for New York at the end of the month (#NightOfPhilosophyAndIdeas).

White tea and naps.

Love and peace ❣️

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Gym day

Walk, lift, swim, sweat, talk, write.
Life is beautiful.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Walk, talk, walk, swim, sweat, walk, write.
Life is beautiful.


Friday, December 28, 2018

Gym day, small set

24 twisted angels, 5# l,r
8 Glute curls, 10# l,r
8 swimmerspresses, 10# l,r
8 lawn mowers, 10# l,r
8 squats, 10# l,r
8 Russian ab twists, 10# l,r
24 twisted inclined situps, 7.5# l,r
Some weird ab work machine: 8 @ 50#
Pigeon, down dog, up dog, forward fold, child's Pose, C100.
Plank
(8 Plank push ups) x 2
Steam room
Sauna

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Weights Room

24 twisted angels, 5# l,r
12 lat presses, 25# l,r
12 Glute curls, 10# l,r
12 swimmers presses, 10# l,r
12 lawn mowers, 10# l,r
12 squats, 10# l,r
24 twisted inclined situps, 7.5# l,r
Pigeon, down dog, up dog, forward fold, shoulder stand, fish, C100.
Steam room
Sauna

Monday, December 24, 2018

Weights Day

24 twisted angels, 5# l,r
12 lat presses, 25# l,r
12 Glute curls, 10# l,r
12 swimmers presses, 10# l,r
12 lawn mowers, 10# l,r
12 squats, 10# l,r
1000 meters rowing
Pigeon, down dog, up dog, forward fold, shoulder stand, fish, C100.
Steam room
Sauna

Saturday, December 1, 2018

The Number of the Day is 12


The number of the day was 12.
10# l,r:
Skullcrushers
Swimmers press
Backscratchers
Squats

Core:
Twisted Angel sets
Inclined Twisted Situps
Plank Breaths
C100

Yoga:
Down dog
Child's Pose
Pigeon
Shoulder Stand
Fish
Hero
Thunderbolt

And then steam room and sauna

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

The Gym Heals Everything

I have been away from the gym for too long, and even when I have been there in the last year or so, I had strayed pretty far from my original routine, a series that was crafted to help my personal resilience as much as a physical program of fitness.

After the terror of Saturday night's dreams and the echos that lingered, I couldn't think of a better plan to shake myself back toward center. I gave myself permission to go slowly, to do as much as I wanted and nothing more. This was about the process, not the tick marks on a page.

A half mile in to the walk and I was stopping to grab a pen -- notes for the writing piece started coming forth. By the time I was at a mile, my center was back in place, at least temporarily, and I headed to the stationary bike, my first friend along this path. Ten minutes of biking had my sweat going on and my heart rate where it needed to be; I might have only burned 56 calories during that 2.5 mile stationary excursion, but it was familiar enough to have me back in the groove, so I headed to the rowing machine where I spent just under six minutes getting that first meter in. Not the worst time by a long shot, and it was rhythmic and welcoming. In the weights room there is a new machine near the stand that I use for the twisted angels. I was suspicious of it; it looked far too comfortable. It had padding and a half-moon-shaped thing to lean over, with a spot to brace my feet straight out behind me. I did 16 face down, then 16 face up before deciding it was just too strange and moving back to the familiar stand and finishing the core work routine.

For arms I was surprised to see that a lot of the dumbbells were missing. This is sad. I grabbed the 5 pound set and did what has become a standard set for me -- this morning it was all about the number 8, except that I did two sets of swimmers' presses before I was aware of what was going on.

I had thought it would be nice to swim a bit, but there was a water aerobics class going on and the hot tub was just too inviting, so I soaked in that and it was an amazing way to relax before a trip to the sauna.

The shower afterward helped ground me perfectly for the rest of the day.
No wonder I followed this routine for so long.

At home after the shower, I made a protein bomb meal, snacking on watermelon while the bacon did its thing in the pan and the eggs fried in the resulting grease. Some cheese, tomato and basil made it especially wonderful.

Since then there have been errands and reading, writing, a book idea and some graph paper moments. There is yoga tonight, as long as I don't fall asleep before the class starts -- a real concern as the rain falls on a lazy late afternoon.

Workout Details
  • Walk 1 mile: 25 minutes
  • Bike 2.5 miles: 10 Minutes
  • Row 1m: 5m45s
  • Core:
    • Straight angels: 16 back, 16 front
    • Twisted angels: 16
    • twisted situps: 24
    • Toe Dips: 8 l,r
    • V-Ups: 8
  • Weights 5# l, r:
    • Glute Press:8
    • Skull Crushers: 8
    • Back Scratchers: 8
    • Swimmer's Presses: 16
    • Monkey Scratches: 8
    • Kettlebell Squat:8 (10# bell, both hands)

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Back on the bike

Spent 30 minutes in the gym this morning.

Bike: 6 minutes @ level 7
Swimmers press: 24@ 10# each l, r
Back scratchers: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Articulated Fly: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Squat: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Gunslingers: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Side Extensions: 12 @ 5# each l, r

Glute kicks: 12 @ 45# l, r
Torso Twists: 12 l, r (forgot the weight setting)


Wednesday, November 22, 2017

A Druidic-Rangering Sort of Day

Yesterday was a day without any focus whatsoever, and I barely remembered my own name, let alone was productive. Today was better, but it wasn't really what I would call focused, and, after sitting with that feeling for a bit, I decided to lean into it instead of trying to work against it.

What happened was a complete surprise, I promise you. With each step, I decided i would just do a little of whatever, usually something that seemed okay-ish, though not really interesting or compelling. I decided to read a bit and picked up the book-in-progress. An hour later, I had finished it, made significant paper-worthy notes in the margin along the way, and decided to pick up the next one in the stack. I'm now twenty percent of the way through that one, and there are notes in it as well.

After that, I checked my mail and made a few necessary phone calls, not really wanting to do much of anything involved. I noticed that there is a contest that seems like something a friend of mine would like, so I sent it along. Fiction isn't really my thing, let alone speculative fiction, but there was a sentence that came my way, so I wrote it down. Three pages later, it's a pretty good sketch, though not speculative fiction at all. I have no idea what to do with it, or what it will become, but it's real and on the page.

After that, I welcomed Harvey home and he brought in the cubby unit for Vivian's room (we are slowly getting the organization of the apartment done). We decided to see what the assembly requirements were, and the next thing you know we were done with it and had it in place.

Then we were heading to the gym, just to do a little something, maybe walk, and I remembered that we needed to drop by the comic book shop. We browsed and had a lovely time talking with Erin, who has a fondness for similar works as those we are getting for Vivian. She mentioned many helpful things, and, in true Nerd fashion, had a list for us before we left.

We went on our way to the gym, where we talked with Maggie, our favorite staff member. She was also full of good conversation and helpfulness, as always, and it's a delight to see her. We decided just to walk a bit, and after a half mile I asked if he would video the twisted angels, so we went off to do that. Then, since I was there, it made sense to do some situps. He went off to row for ten minutes, and I messed about with the weights and the yoga center, then hopped on the treadmill next to a classmate and jogged a quarter mile while I talked about reunion (I'm not going; she is). Harvey still had five minutes to go on the rower, so I sat on the one next to him and did 500 meters at his pace (2m45s), which was enough for me, thank you very much. We went down to the pool, just to stretch, and the water was so wonderful and warm that I swam 475 yards in fifteen minutes. Back in the locker room, the sauna was amazingly serene and welcoming; twenty minutes slipped by before I knew it.

I didn't set out to be a Ranger today.
It just sort of happened while I wasn't paying too much attention to anything.

  • Read: Finished book 3 (of six); began book 4; notes throughout
  • Write: Three pages
  • Call Mrs. Potter
  • Pre-Registration call for medical appointment
  • Assemble the cubby unit for Vivian's room
  • Comic Shop
  • Gym:
    • Walk: half-mile in ten minutes
    • 16 twisted angels
    • 16 inclined twist sit ups
    • 16 swimmers presses (7.5# each hand)
    • 45 second plank
    • Downward Dog
    • Childs Pose
    • jog a quarter mile while talking with Jen about the reunion
    • 500 m rowing
    • 440 yards swimming
    • 20 minutes sauna

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Double Take: Swimming


I'm not going to lie: Tonight I feel a little bit like a badass.
I did indeed skip the hot tub and spent the time in the pool, still swimming, not really meaning to break any records, just hoping that I could keep moving for the whole time.
I swam a half mile before the time was up.
That's right, 880 yards, or twice what I usually do.
I'm pretty certain I'm going to feel it in my arms before this time next week, but that's not going to stop me from going back tomorrow.
And the next day.
And the day after that, too.

I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh, and I did twenty minutes in the sauna too.
What an amazing evening at the gym.

The rediscovery of small things

I've rediscovered swimming, thanks to an astoundingly obvious revelation that I stumbled on just before Halloween: The family pool is six degrees or so warmer than the lap pool. This makes all the difference for me, and my routine at the gym has shifted accordingly.

For now, I'm content to swim a quarter mile when I go, not worrying about time or distance until after I have the routine re-established. I'm beyond happy to have this back. When we were in Richmond on Friday, we had a lovely time and walked over three miles, but still, I missed the pool.

My evening routine has become:
Swim: 440 yards
Hot tub
Sauna: 15 minutes
Shower

I'm thinking of dropping the hot tub, since it doesn't really seem to have as much benefit as I want it to, and the staff are keeping it wicked-hot these days. I'm a fan of 102 at most, preferably 101, and the time in the pool is ultimately more satisfying.

After the gym last night, we came home to our routine of dinner and cards. There was fish and roasted root vegetables, a perfectly autumnal offering of food.

We watched the penultimate episode of The Five, and then we were both tired enough to call it a night. The Five is good enough that I expect to see a review of it in the newsletter soon. That, along with current seasons of Poldark and Mr. Robot are all on the calendar. We can barely fit in an episode a night, and sometimes we can't do that, so three a week is about maxing me out.

We were asleep before 8:30. Of course I woke up at 3:30 to go to the bathroom -- we can change the clocks all we want, but my body knows what time it is.

Today, I'm reading my classmates' offerings, writing a bit more, and feeling blessed to be in the program. I'm also reading Learning to Walk in the Dark, and while I'm not very many pages into it yet, each one speaks deeply to me, intimately so. I read about four pages at a time before I set it aside to let Taylor's words settle into me a bit further. I'm looking forward to voting this evening after working up my critique for November's offering from the Writing Pod. I have enough new material for December's submission already, and that makes me feel solid. I'm not certain what has turned the creative taps to the Wide Open setting, but each time I sit down to write just one small thing before it slips away, I have a page or three before I get up. I'm not complaining; far from it. It's lovely and I'm blessed and deeply grateful. I'm also clearing my calendar of at least one item a day before 3 in order to help accommodate it, because I want to know more about what comes off the nib.

The routine continues to hold me.
If anything is able to see me through this patch in my life to the other side, it will be the routine combined with deep gratitude, acceptance, and a willingness to meet myself on my own terms.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Lessons in the Gym

You know that the Universe loves you and wants you to be happy when it starts answering your prayers.
Caveat: This one gets long.
Grab some tea and put on some nice music.
Feel free to come back and read it at a later time.
My feelings won't be hurt, I promise.

Lately, I've been praying for the ability to be calm even in extremely chaotic, stressful, and personal situations that seem to happen so often lately, and during which my emotions go all over the Unhealthy Map, wrecking my peace of mind and playing havoc with my physical system.

So yesterday, in a renewed commitment to self-care, I went back to my regular Tuesday routine: acupuncture, therapy, sauna. How blissful and restorative. Then it happened: two women in the sauna that I had never seen before had stuff spread everywhere -- phones with house music cranked to full volume, water bottles, unused headphones and hair bands, towels. I navigated the explosion of personal affects and sat down on the bench. The one woman spoke to me, "Someone's sitting there." I was confused, because, clearly, I didn't bump into anyone as I took my seat. "She just went to get some water." I continued to say nothing. "That's her phone," the woman said, gesturing  well-manicured, glittery nails to the device blaring house music. She looked at me pointedly. "This is me not saying anything," I said calmly. "It's harder than you might think." I closed my eyes again. "This is me not saying anything about you being in here with no clothes on," she said in an openly hostile and disapproving tone of voice. I opened my eyes and looked at her to figure out if she was serious. Not only was she serious, she was staring a challenge at me, clearly expecting a response. "Oh." I said. I closed my eyes again. (For the record, I was covered with a towel, but that's not exactly required. You can be buck-ass naked if you choose. I like that.) She proceeded to go on a tirade about how no one wanted to see my naked self. I didn't say anything.

The woman of the personal effects came in, took one look at me, and proceeded to get huffy. The other woman started telling her about how she told me not to sit there but how I said I didn't care. All this conversation had to happen at top volume to be heard over the music, of course. When the conversation was getting nasty-personal about how I looked and behaved and didn't have the right to sit in the one place where there wasn't any stuff, I felt my inner panic routine ramp up. But then, I saw the middle-school moment for what it was -- completely unrelated to me and really sad -- and it derailed altogether. By realizing I didn't have to participate in this little drama-fest, it didn't take long for my heart rate to come back down (FitBit had it at 188 at the peak-my max is considered to be 178) and the fluttering in my chest to subside. I started breathing normally again, just in time for them to decide to run me out of the sauna by dousing water on the rocks repeatedly and turning the music up even louder and -- dig this -- singing along. Yeah, I still didn't care. 

Even after the second bucket of water was dumped, one ladle at a time, my heart rate didn't go anywhere near what it was when they were being all MeanGirl about the whole thing. Of course, it really did get hot in there, and they had to take breaks -- once to get more water for the rocks and twice to go tell the manager that I was *gasp* in there without anything on under my towel. The second time, the counter person came in to see what was up. I waved and said "Hi, Sarah." She looked at me long and hard, told the women that I was perfectly fine the way I was (duh!!!), waved and left.

See there? That's the Universe giving me the opportunity to get what I asked for -- peace and serenity in the face of toxicity. 
I just had to step up to the plate.

Bonus: I got a really good steam room workout without having to leave the sauna, even though the steam room is down for repair this week. 
Thanks, Ladies!!

Monday, November 28, 2016

Ice
Heidi’s Yuletide 2016 Challenge

The Big Why

Attention to small things gives us real results in large things.
This is my Why, and the Tao is my Way.

Objectives: What I Want

  1. A peaceful mind. I value balance in all things, but especially in my heart and mind. Peace of mind vanquishes all.
  2. A healthy body.
  3. Happy family time.
  4. A clean and orderly home.

Activities: What I’m Willing to do

  1. Attitude Awareness and Adjustment:
    1. Read the Tao daily, preferably with my partner, sharing our thoughts on the passage of the day.
    2. Go to work with a positive attitude, grateful wherever and whenever possible
    3. Sauna meditation daily
  2. Take care of the body that I have been given:
    1. Physical workout once a week
    2. Maintain a restful and restorative sleep schedule
      8+ hours, with a gentle buffer for falling asleep and waking up
    3. Make time for activities that help
      1. Walking
      2. Acupuncture
      3. Therapy
      4. Yoga Therapy
  3. Play with Vivian
  4. Uphold the house system in place with love and care
    1. Clothing set out each week
    2. Dinner prepared and dishes washed with love and mindfulness.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Sunday


Sunday morning Co-op

Almost tall enough


What's with the September green grass?

Planning The Execution

Whackadoodles

Sunday afternoon at the gym

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Sunday afternoon


Stories and playtime this morning with Vivian - she is wicked good at Crazy 8s - and then some time at the gym. She played ping pong for the first time and is pretty good at it!

I spent 12 minutes in the steam room and 12 minutes in the sauna before my shower. Then home for Cannelli beans, rice and chicken -blueberries for a midday dessert - before reading and rest time. She is looking forward to playing with the neighbors this afternoon.

I'm reading Riordan for pleasure right now - The Hidden Oracle - and it has to go back to the library no later than Friday. Not really worried that I won't finish it by then. :)

Friday, September 2, 2016

Blue Skies and Holidays Ahead

The morning routine with Vivian was delightful - she is fun and wonderful and I love seeing her grow into who she is going to be. Harvey and I discussed how we are all Team Vivian, her dad and step mom included - even when we aren't getting along. I'm glad he and I are less interested in fighting and more interested in parenting; it certainly simplifies matters.

After sauna and walking a mile, I'm ready for a nap. My sleep is all wonky and I freely queasy and weird. Also, my left shoulder hurts enough that I don't want to use it for anything, so rest is clearly indicated all around.

Looking forward to a fun holiday weekend with the family.