Exercise

I do do some exercise. Mainly walking, to train stations or to wind band, or walking the dogs. But that’s about as far as it goes. I’m not a sporty person.

I don’t even really like watching it on TV, often losing concentration. I did try some yoga, as part of the virtual flash fiction festival days, but I found some of it challenging. I haven’t been to a gym in years. Not just because I don’t want to, but because its expensive and a long walk to even get there, and I find them a major trigger for stress and anxiety. And now I know that gyms have major accessibility problems for partially sighted people, it puts me off even more. And I just don’t see the point of gyms, why people do them.

But I do have this problem with my left knee. It crunches and clicks, and can be really stiff and painful, and has been for a couple of years now. I finally saw someone about it before Christmas, and he suggested some exercises. But they weren’t very enjoyable, or easy to do.

And then I found Headspace’s Mini Motivation WorkOut. And its really good. Its a short ten minute session, with lots of stretches, that aren’t too complicated to do. There’s a couple I can’t do, but I don’t mind, and end up doing other stretches when those are happening, or skip them. The teacher is really good, has a nice voice and she makes it seem fun. And it helps. When I do their session, my knee clicks and crunches, and isn’t as painful for the rest of the day.

It feels great, when I’ve done it. With anxiety, you’re often clenching muscle. I get a stiff back a lot, and wake up stiff all over, mainly my chest and legs. But the stretches help. They unknot my muscles and it feels great to unwind and get rid of the stiffness, making me feel refreshed and reinvigorated. The jumping jacks at the end make me feel good, fuelling me with energy for the rest of my day, a real adrenaline rush I never knew I needed.

Its strange. I’m not an exercise person. But I get so jaded, and grumpy, if I don’t do that session before I start my work day. It clears my head, sets my intentions, and also helps with my knee. With anxiety, we’re often clenching muscles. So its nice to unwind them for ten minutes, and another if I need. I wouldn’t have thought I needed exercise in my life. But I’m glad to have it. 

By Sarah

A visually impaired science fiction and fantasy writer who loves music, mythology, and plays the clarinet. Had one short story and eleven flashes published both in print and online. A work in progress, improving my mental health one story at a time.

12 comments

  1. An interesting dialogue is worth comment. I feel that you must write more on this matter, it may not be a taboo topic but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  2. You can certainly see your expertise within the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. Always go after your heart. “Man is the measure of all things.” by Protagoras.

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