I recently started exercising again, partly because of the rainy, dismal time in winter. I know that if we were living more naturally, specific time for "exercise" would be unnecessary. However, since we are living in an unnatural lifestyle, I was curious of learning other people's favorite and / or most challenging exercises. I like being challenged. I myself find Pilates type exercises challenging and usually do stretching/pilates/calistenic exercises half the time while using weights the other half. I concentrate alot on core exercises and consider alot of the exercises I do as more aptly called rehabilitation, concentrating on weaknesses and trying to repair damage done from heavy weight lifting / basketball in high school.

One example of rehabilitation is regaining the ability of squatting down correctly like a little child with torso upright, heels on the ground, and butt nearly touching the ground (without holding onto something for balance). I have been working on this for some time, though I still cannot do it fully. I'm getting closer

Interestingly, as I was doing a little research on the squat, I came across a website that says one of the reason we lose the ability to squat is because of the use of toilets. This site has a platform to convert your toilet into one in which you squat correctly to take a crap. Sorry for the lewd language.
[www.naturesplatform.com]



Here it is; nature's platform

That is so cute, cosbynian!

My exercise program includes hatha yoga, running (though right now we've been getting a lot of rain), and heavyhands aerobics.

But my absolutely FAVORITE exercise that I love to do is walking. My husband and I live near a national park and love to go on long hikes, often 15 miles. It's wonderful!

Burpees!
[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]

Its sitting in chairs that causes us to lose the ability to squat. I have removed all chairs out of my living space, and I also have a Nature's Platform. My ability to squat is improving, as well as my ability to sit on the floor for long periods of time. Also, because of sitting in chairs for 10 to 12 hours a day at my old job, the muscles in my hips and lower back were pretty contracted before I started yoga, and I am still working out my contractions there.

I may have invented a new exercise... I call it bike-lifting.

I came up with this when I was doing a lot of mountain biking this summer. I was carrying my bike across creeks and bridges and over rough terrain. Now I've adapted this to an urban environment.

I'll ride my bike for a while and then carry it across a freeway overpass (incline and decline), switching between shoulders. I also carry it up and down some outside stairs a bunch of times.

In my backyard I do a whole variety of lifts and carries with the bike. My bike is really heavy and cumbersome which I think is great for building over all strength. It gives a more natural looking physique than just lifting weights at a gym.

I also do a lot of fast-twitch training... like I'll switch between jogging and sprinting a bunch of times... there's a name for this but I forget what it is.

I have a torn ACL, which was never repaired. The amazing thing is my patellar tendon in that knee has hypertrophied as if to compensate for the missing ligament.

I completely agree with Bryan about sitting in chairs.

We eat Japanese-style at a low table, and I sit on my heels or crosslegged when I have to sit in chairs. I wonder too if sitting on chairs causes varicose veins, because most of my friends have them, but I don't.

Small people can squat right on the toilet seat (if the seat is strong).

Sounds like you and your bike are one, jono. Pretty neat!

jono and the bike is ONE

i found it hard to distinguish between them
once i saw a bike and i thought it was jono

my mind was playing tricks on me

but then i squinted and looked twice
and it was only a bike

jono was elsewhere

coolness abounds everywhere

i see bikes floating across creeks

okay... let me go now
my mind is running away from me

ciao

if i had to lift my bike across creeks, freeway overpasses etc, it would definetely not be fun for me :-<

i like to ride my bike though



but what an intriguing idea anyhow
and saves $ buying all that weightlifting paraphernalia


my favorite exercise is dancing in the dark

Spinning classes at my gym are my favorite. Nothing tones my body like spinning does and I have plans to start again Monday night. Yay.

Hiking would be second, though I'm hoping to find a hiking club/group to hike with this spring. So until then I'll use a treadmill.

Hatha yoga once a week (after spinning) for stretching.

I love swimming, but not the chlorine, so that's not an option right now.


la_veronique Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------->
> my favorite exercise is dancing in the dark

That sounds fun, Ver. I'll have to try that sometime.

dancing in the dark is better than dancing in daylight ( unless it is full moon)
and if you dance outside like in a forest that is better too

if u close your eyes... then you can feel the movements
and you become the dance and are indistinguishable from it

i like dancing in a room with the door and curtains closed and good music playing.

Pilates, I take a class with my sister once a week!

I can't believe no one's mentioned HIKING yet!! I LOVE backpacking, walking, hill-climbing, stair-climbing (yeah I've been known to go into businesses during my lunch hour and climb to the top of 40 floor buildings - FUN!)

Angie


Me (30), Joseph (24 mo.) Jeremiah (4 mo.)

We are enjoying spring and being outside!!!

hey angie

i'll mention it

HIKKKKINNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!


wooooHOOOOOOOO OF COURSE!!

all time fave on my top 10 list for sure

thanks for bringing it up

makes me smile just when the topic is brought up

the sights the fragrances of leaves and the air

what is there NOT to like?

My husband and I love Rock Climbing and I have recently gotten into Bikram Yoga



My website: The Coconut Chronicles