Exercises

[muckefuck]

Over dinner together on the coldest day of the year so far, spookyfruit and I were discussing our workout regimes. I complained about how the free weights I was using upper body work were aggravating my lower back pain. "You shouldn't be using your back at all," he chided me. "If that's causing you problems, you need to work on your core. Time to do more crunches." Since, then I've been doing my best to put that advice into practice, but it was only a couple days ago that it occurred to me that what he said applied to more than just abdominal muscles. I've had my share of psychic pain recently as well, and I've come to realise that I need to work on my core there as well.

I made a stab at this several months back when I attempted a metta meditation that monshu recommended. But since I hadn't trained, I tired of it quickly, and that made it easy to let it slide. Obviously, I need to push through and persevere until I start to feel the effects. And just as better form and increased energy is an encouragement to keep pumping that iron, the better peace of mind and increased calm will spur to keep it up. Or if that mental exercise isn't producing the benefits I'm seeking, well, it's not like there's a dearth of alternatives. As they say, the most effective diet is the one you stick to. And the most effective spiritual practice is the one you keep with even when you don't always feel up to it.

The Old Man and I had a good long conversation about this and more this morning when he found me in a state of distress and threw himself into calming me down so I could get some sleep. In the process, a lot of heartfelt things were said. I called him "one of the pillars of my existence" and I meant it. My life is organised around his presence in it in a way it's never been for anyone else. But I know full well that it's the nature of this world that pillars crumble. The unthinkable happens every day. The only way to prepare yourself is to keep yourself fit and flexible--no matter how tedious that may be.

Comments

[gopower.livejournal.com]

A quick google of metta meditation makes it sound likea lot of work. Maybe you should try something simpler. The "Men's Health" recommended meditation (I said it was simpler!) is just to sit cross-legged or in a comfortable position facing a blank wall and for ten minutes shortly before bedtime just do yoga-style belly breathing. Think of nothing, don't even count breaths. When your mind settles on something, push it away and focus back on breathing. I've only tried it twice, both times when I was already up too late, so too early to assess the effects.

It's supposed to reduce stress and improve sleep, but probably won't take you very far up the path to enlightenment.

Oh, for the dumbbells, have you tried doing the exercises standing rather than seated or on your back? That way the core stays at least partly engaged during the workout. It's a more natural approach since people seldom do any everyday activity that corresponds to a bench press.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

That was monshu's suggestion, too--start with controlled breathing. It's a simple extension of what I already do when I work out anyway.

I do a few sets standing, but I've worried that strains my back more than sitting. Right now I'm concentrating on getting back to where I was with leg lifts several years ago when upwards of 100 a morning was not difficult.