Doesn’t this look like more fun than the gym? Photo: Quincy Dein.
Do you think a hundred years ago they would have possibly conceived of a life where they would need to supplement exercise into their day?
This is how I see the majority of modern exercise approaches: it’s an exercise supplement. Because most people just don’t get enough movement in their day, they view exercise the same way they view vitamins and minerals. It’s a “take this for that” mentality. Let’s say your blood work is lacking calcium – therefore you take a calcium supplement. And eating food is viewed as a neat form of packaging for calories, therefore you need to burn ALL those calories using exercise.
Many of us get so little movement in our day that taking the stairs is viewed as a challenge that is just not worth the effort. So what do we do? We make stairs that move for us!
Enter the modern gym chain. Here is your exercise supplement, people. They let you think that you should feel bad about your body and your health, so in order to help you solve that problem, you’re going to sign up to a 12 month gym membership that you’ll most likely never use. Not only that, here is a machine that you can use that takes all the effort out of exercise because it is so f*cking boring. Why not watch some TV so you don’t even know you are doing it!
No wonder most people don’t use their gym memberships. Exercise in this fashion is seen as a chore, and their health as something they should feel guilty about. The entire fitness industry depends on it and it’s just not healthy to spend the amount of time indoors under artificial lighting as we do.
Exercise should be fun, it should be challenging, it should be outdoors whenever possible, and most importantly, it should make you healthy. Please, stop using exercise to punish yourself.
I strongly believe that the modern gym chain will see a steady decline as more people start to realize that they are pretty dull places for the most part, and they can have so much fun doing anything else. I believe that more people will venture into the outdoors for their health, and surfing will have huge part to play in this.
Triathlon has seen a massive surge in interest as people ditch their gym memberships for group cycling, running and swimming. I would love to see more people taking up outdoor hill walking, rock climbing, kayaking, and surfing. Anything that gets you connected back with nature. That’s right, a nature supplement!
What better way is there to build a greater global consciousness about our impact on the planet, and what better way is there to get healthy? But what about lifting weights? Should we still do it?
Absof*ckinglutely!
Lets face it, most people are pretty weak, imbalanced and unfit. So what about using exercise during the week as a way of getting you strong and fit enough to do that thing you love doing outdoors on the weekends? Now your exercise plan has a reason. It’s not just some random thing that you do because you feel bad about yourself if you don’t.
Now you are kicking some serious arse! You’ve got the gym chains by the balls.
So go out, find something you love doing, and eat, move and be healthy so that you can do that thing more. Get outdoors folks, get in touch with nature again, and get enjoying this beautiful planet while you have the chance. If you don’t know how to surf, why not give that a try? I can’t think of a single sport that requires such a high level of endurance, strength, power, agility, flexibility, coordination, balance, patience and a sense of humor all at the same time.
Enjoy your exercise, folks, because you deserve it!
Til next time surf fans,
Ash ( ash@weekendsurfwarrior.com ) at www.weekendsurfwarrior.com
