Week 147: Full Disclosure

Have you noticed lately the increasing amount of blog posts and news articles highlighting what dietician actually eat?

This always seems funny yet relevant to me. It is a common inquiry I have from patients, not what I eat but what I do for exercise. I can only imagine this will too come up as I become a yoga teacher such as what is your favorite asana, where do you practice outside of class etc.

In the same vein, I thought I'd answer the call - more as an exercise physiologist, rather than a wanna-be yoga teacher.

It ALWAYS surprises people when I tell them I do not own a gym membership. Quite frankly, I haven't in about 18 years! It was when I lived at home and was in high school that I had a pass to our local recreation centre.

Now, how is it that its been so many years?

Well, small lie. I guess I had a pass at University (that student fees covered) and I frequented the gym three times per week, most weeks. Yet, since then, I haven't really gone to the gym.

Now, don't fret. I LOVE exercise (it's not that I don't practice what I preach) but what I find is I like exercise outside of the confines of the gyms' four walls. Shiny new equipment aside, I find it easier to do without going somewhere like a gym.

Most weeks include at least two or three bike rides, maybe a run too on another day. With work, I can complete some resistance exercises; yet, truth be told my resistance training is very functional - daily - lifting kids and all their stuff! Almost every day too I walk. It may be the typical after dinner walk around the neighborhood or the more active living approach of walking when it makes sense (primarily for transportation). Weekly swimming lessons also get me into the pool but I sure would love a lane pool type of swim more often. I round out the week with at least one yoga practice in my yoga studio (read: basement floor) if not more. And of course, I'm always up for any active invite to try Zumba, soccer, basketball, rowing, crossfit, etc.!

Not going to a studio is also been the case with my yoga practice.

I was very fortunate to practice this week outside. Active YEG Demo Day was the perfect spot for yoga. It was an event to draw attention to the multitude of ways to be physically active - gym or no gym.

The most touching part of my practice was gazing (ok, squinting) in the sky (ok, sun) in mountain pose before cascading down into a forward fold. Nothing beats moving outside!

So there you have it. Full disclosure on what I do for exercise. It changes from time to time but what usually holds is a sample of cardiovascular exercise, with a dabble of resistance training and a heap full of flexibility (via yoga).

Are you an ex-gym goer? What do you do outside the confines of the gym?
LW