when time stands still

over the years i've tried all sorts of structured exercise type things but it's just not my thing..ok..i'll be really honest..i can't stand it..

once upon a time i lugged my children on the train to the ywca in melbourne where i could attend an affordable aerobics class (when it was all the rage) while my children were being cared for..and since then i've attended many different aerobics classes in different venues..i found with most classes a) i didn't have the right gear b) the music was too fast (i couldn't keep up!) and b) i was uncoordinated

then i swam..i even built up to 50 laps of a 25 metre pool..not great by some people's standards but that was epic for me..but it was a mission showering before going in the pool and then showering after swimming and then there was the travel bag of ablution accoutrements i had to take with me that girls need like soap, facial cleanser, shampoo, conditioner and a hairdryer..and of course there's all the other clobber you need like a bathing cap, goggles and ear plugs..these are not essential like bathers are but they a) made me look the part and b) they prevented hair, eye and ear damage..the bit where i had to shower in front of everyone was challenging enough but the thing that really put me off swimming were all the bits of human debris in the pool..ok..i know i've said too much already so i won't elaborate and offend your sensibilities any more..

i've done yoga too and meditation..that's not bad because you don't need stuff and it's ok if you wear your old stretch pants and look like a dork..i know the whole idea is about relaxing but i get bored, really bored, and when i'm supposed to be meditating i open one eye and look around the room and at the clock when i'm supposed to be thinking quiet thoughts and focusing on my naval..basically i just want it all to be over..oh..and i did pilates once too..

i love walking so quite a while ago now i went on a walk with a group..there was carpooling and a long drive and then a lot of walking in nice places with a lot of people..and when i say a lot i mean about 60 people who talked a lot and seemed like nice enough people but a) there were about 58 too many of us for me b) we made so much noise that any wildlife in the area would have headed for other hills and c) there were so many human distractions that it was hard to really enjoy the bush setting..i only went once..

yep..i've been to the gym..i've worked out to the noise of a big plasma screen television on the rower, the bike, the bench, the ball, the walking thing and all the other gizmos ..in desperation i even had a personal trainer for a while..my bank account got the best workout ever..

this week i've exercised a lot though..in total i probably did about 20-25 hours..but it's the sort of exercise where for me time stands still and where i don't have to force myself to move my body..in fact i have to discipline myself with a time limit so that, i can get other things done, and i don't push myself too hard physically..what i'm talking about here is gardening..i've hand mown the lawn and raked up the clippings, weeded, prepared a garden bed for vegetable planting, pruned a dozen roses and my crabapple, elderberry, pomegranate and lemon verbena, removed two roses, one of which was so big i needed to get the axe to it, that i haven't like for ages, picked up several bags of rust infected rose leaves and i've bundled and tied all of the prunings and then piled them in two wheelbarrows..i'll stack the bundles in my shed in the next day or so to dry so they're ready to be used next winter as kindling..and i didn't have to a) spend anything b) drive anywhere c) wear a special outfit d) pack a travel bag e) risk water borne infection f) talk to anyone i don't want to know or g) undress in public..

what's your favourite exercise? i promise i won't judge you if it involves wearing lycra..