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Exercise vs. Play
I was working out with my 13-year-old niece the other night, and I noticed that she was having trouble keeping up at times, and feeling really bad about it. She was frustrated and defensive, and I kept thinking how ridiculous that was. We were only checking out the "On Demand" fitness channel because we both had energy to burn, and we thought it would be amusing. This girl plays soccer and softball, skates, rides her bike, walks all over town, etc. She doesn't have any trouble keeping up when playing with her friends. She's slender, energetic, healthy. So she's in great shape, right?
I exercise all the time with these contrived "workouts", but I can't climb trees like I used to, I couldn't outrun a hungry animal, I can hardly even keep up with a two-year-old on the playground. So why do I do it? Yes, I love to move, I love feeling my body work, being challenged, the experience of being in my body. I believe exercise is a good thing. My point is, when did these executing certain proscribed movements (e.g. situps, pushups, blahcakes), in a certain way, in a certain quantity, with a certain frequency, become superior to actually doing stuff? How do work and play and exercise exist in isolation?
No wonder people "don't have time" to exercise. There's no element of play in our work (for most of us). There's no element of exercise in either work or play. How did that happen? I remember when I used to spend the majority of my time in motion, outside, in the sun, with friends... getting exercise. Now exercise is a means to an end :"getting in shape". Which somehow translates to looking a certain way. I see people in the gym (as I walk on by), avoiding eye contact, looking miserable, working hard. Why? I guarantee you none of those kids you see on the monkey bars are thinking, "Man, I can't wait till this is over, I want to quit so bad, but just imagine how great my glutes are gonna look if I can get through this last set". Seriously, that is bullshit. I could care less about how I look, as long as I feel healthy and attractive and strong. I could care less about how you look; if you feel good, if you feel sexy, I'm likely to respond to that.
So is there a certain age at which it becomes socially unacceptable to exercise organically? When it stops being enjoyable and natural and becomes an obligation?
I am particularly concerned because I see that the younger generation is reaching that threshold even earlier. I am disturbed by the tv channels geared for kids available on demand 24/7, along with kid-oriented websites and internet games which can never be won (thus they never end, never get old). People are so inundated with sedentary diversions, with advertisements pushing consumerism as the solution to every problem and the source of all happiness. There is really no practical or intuitive reason to exercise. Anyone who has regularly enjoyed a physical activity (a sport, dancing, hiking, etc.) will probably tell you that it is good for body, mind and soul. It feels good. Yet there may be millions of people who never experience that, who internalize the concept of exercise solely as a chore. I actually have tears in my eyes right now, thinking that.
If only I knew what to do about it.
I exercise all the time with these contrived "workouts", but I can't climb trees like I used to, I couldn't outrun a hungry animal, I can hardly even keep up with a two-year-old on the playground. So why do I do it? Yes, I love to move, I love feeling my body work, being challenged, the experience of being in my body. I believe exercise is a good thing. My point is, when did these executing certain proscribed movements (e.g. situps, pushups, blahcakes), in a certain way, in a certain quantity, with a certain frequency, become superior to actually doing stuff? How do work and play and exercise exist in isolation?
No wonder people "don't have time" to exercise. There's no element of play in our work (for most of us). There's no element of exercise in either work or play. How did that happen? I remember when I used to spend the majority of my time in motion, outside, in the sun, with friends... getting exercise. Now exercise is a means to an end :"getting in shape". Which somehow translates to looking a certain way. I see people in the gym (as I walk on by), avoiding eye contact, looking miserable, working hard. Why? I guarantee you none of those kids you see on the monkey bars are thinking, "Man, I can't wait till this is over, I want to quit so bad, but just imagine how great my glutes are gonna look if I can get through this last set". Seriously, that is bullshit. I could care less about how I look, as long as I feel healthy and attractive and strong. I could care less about how you look; if you feel good, if you feel sexy, I'm likely to respond to that.
So is there a certain age at which it becomes socially unacceptable to exercise organically? When it stops being enjoyable and natural and becomes an obligation?
I am particularly concerned because I see that the younger generation is reaching that threshold even earlier. I am disturbed by the tv channels geared for kids available on demand 24/7, along with kid-oriented websites and internet games which can never be won (thus they never end, never get old). People are so inundated with sedentary diversions, with advertisements pushing consumerism as the solution to every problem and the source of all happiness. There is really no practical or intuitive reason to exercise. Anyone who has regularly enjoyed a physical activity (a sport, dancing, hiking, etc.) will probably tell you that it is good for body, mind and soul. It feels good. Yet there may be millions of people who never experience that, who internalize the concept of exercise solely as a chore. I actually have tears in my eyes right now, thinking that.
If only I knew what to do about it.
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I find it really hard to remember that exercise feels good. This, despite the fact that I practiced martial arts for years for that reason, and loved to dance as a kid. As you say, there are all these reasons *not* to exercise, and it's not built naturally into my daily life, so I have to constantly actively remind myself of how good it feels. It's a real struggle, even though I know the logic is there.
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