More on Mother Nature’s Gym

There was recently a post extolling the virtues of using the natural gym around us. I’d like to throw my two cents in on that topic. Yesterday I went for my first bike ride of the season. Whizzing up and down the Chicago lakefront of Lake Michigan always does my heart good, in more ways than one. You just can’t beat riding next to the waves crashing on the rocks. Kids are out playing soccer and softball, other bikers and runners race with you around the curves. The wind, which occasionally forces you to work harder and get that heartrate up, also cools you down and urges you on.

Me personally, I hate the gym. I’ve never been able to force myself to go on a regular basis. In my mind, by the time I get ready, grab my bag and drive to the gym, I can already be at the lakefront and on my ride. Plus, the gym doesn’t have the smell of the outdoors, the sound of the water and beaches every few hundred feet. What better way to end a workout than to sit in the sand and read a book, stick your feet in the water or just relax for a bit. Nope, it’s no contest…Mother Nature wins hands down.

Stop drinking with Yoga

My doctor was less than thrilled with the amount that I go out and party and drink too much. Being honest, I told her that it probably wouldn’t completely stop any time soon (I am, after all, only 25!) But then I realized something. On the days that I do yoga, I drink less. Not only is that true, but if I am doing yoga regularly, I tend to go out less on the whole. Maybe it has something to do with the relaxing qualities of both alcohol and yoga…maybe I feel healthier when doing yoga and don’t want to taint that by getting completely wasted…or maybe it is just the time that I spend doing yoga that takes away from my drinking time. Whatever it is, I obviously feel healthier when doing yoga. And my doctor will be thrilled with my drinking less. Looks like everybody wins.