Dispatches from the middle

Hate is a very strong word, so I don’t want to say I hate yoga, but I’d choose well ‘nigh any other activity over yoga. This is kind of where I stand on the whole thing. But that’s just me (and whoever made the video). I probably should do yoga, as it’s a great way to improve flexibility and core strength, but the temptations to a) curl up and go to sleep; or b) fart as loudly and frequently as I can, respectively, are too strong. Won’t do it.

I should hop into the pool more often as well. I love to swim, but – especially in winter – the desire to not be cold and wet is far too strong.

Go to the gym, perhaps? If I can use the treadmill, sure. But don’t expect me to lift, push or hang off of anything. There was a wee video going around Facebook a few weeks ago showing a variety of hapless individuals doing ridiculous contortions on exercise machines. The caption read something to the effect of “I don’t always go to the gym, but when I do, I have no idea what the hell I’m doing.” And my first thought was “that’s me!!” The bottom line is I tend to choose running over any other activity. Except, perhaps, for one…

If I were a betting woman, I’d say this picture was taken in 1993. Which would have made me 12 and positively rabid to jump over things with my pony Top Gun. A better critter I will likely never meet. I rode nearly every day from the ages of 10 – 17, at which point high school got too busy to justify the expense of keeping horses, and my family got out of the sport and moved on to other things.

But what wonderful creatures! What fun, and what a fantastic workout. I’ve been out to the barn where my sisters ride a number of times over the last couple of weeks, and am just loving it. A kind and patient soul named Rocket has been gracious enough to put up with my shenanigans, and I’m actually amazed at how much ability / stability I’ve retained. We toodle around, jump over little fences, and enjoy tons of snuggles and carrots. I never thought about it as a kid, except that I loved having an excuse to be outside and dirty all the time, but it feels exceptionally healthy to be out in the dust and dirt and snow, surrounded by horses, dogs, and cats, covered in fur and slobber, and sweating up a storm.

And, as a bonus, I have a sneaky suspicion that riding will help immensely with core and upper body strength. [I’ve given up on ever achieving more than the minimum standard in flexibility, so I find a good stretch after each run is usually suitable to prevent injury.] When asked, The Google didn’t have much to say about riding and running as complementary training regimens, but it makes sense to me. And it’s something I’ll actually do. So back to it!