Much Ado About Parenting: exercise

Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Up in arms.

Despite what you may have heard about Mums of young babies, we don't all sit around watching daytime TV. I actually make a point of avoiding it. Not due to some self righteous claim of intellectual authority over those who do enjoy it, but because it is designed to suck you in. Before you know it you have reachhed 3pm and achieved nothing. I tend to have music on instead, as this is relaxing for both Ethan and I. Of course I do watch TV for certain shows but don't have a habit of it just being there.

For some unknown reason I switched on to 'Lorraine' one morning this week while having breakfast as Ethan played in his gym. What I was faced with was four women discussing arms. Yes, you heard me right. Arms. In a deadly serious tone, as though they were finding a soution to world conflict or poverty. Apparently ladies, getting the correct size, style and tone of arm is the key to a happy Christmas and I dare say a happy life. Shit the bed, if I had known that I wouldn't have spent years searching for true love, good friends and building a family. I also wouldn't have bothered learning anything, teaching or writing. Cheers for the enlightenment Lorraine and chums.

I understand that obviously body image, dieting and exercise are topics of conversation on these shows but with a focus on arms it is more comedy gold than anything else. After watching a few minutes I decided to bake a massive cake with a shit load of sugar and butter in. That's my Christmas fucked then. If only I had paid more attention to Lorraine. Imagine the headlines: 'Daytime telly saved my arms AND family Christmas.' I've missed my chance but there is still time for your arms to be saved.

As a Mummy mate said when I told her about the feature: 'Lorraine can cock right off.' Couldn't have put it better myself.

Disclaimer: this is written for entertainment purposes and is in no way a personal attack against Lorraine and the gang.

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Yoga: not just for hippies.

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I spent my teen years floating around in my fluro flowing skirt, Shiva printed shirt and masses of bangles like a cross between Janis Joplin (minus the drugs and talent) and an extra from 'Austin Powers.' Yeah baby! I was wild; I could even be seen wearing a bindi at times. Needless to say I stood out living in the small Essex town of Corringham where everyone knows your name (or family at least) and working men's clubs (where I worked at the time collecting glasses), local pubs and the village hall are the social hub. To really embrace my New Age look I tried everything from herbal teas and chick peas to animal rights activism and tree loving.

I can see what you are thinking. This woman is clearly a hippy so how does this support yoga as anything other than a pretenious pastime for the peculiar?

When I fell pregnant I hadn't undertaken a sustained amount of yoga time in several months and felt it would be an easy way to stay active without working too hard! However, I really have found that it has provided so much more than an easy way to prevent myself from feeling like a total sloth. While continuing to work full time in a highly pressured and intense job with the usual pregnancy gripes it was the only time I really experienced real relaxation. Whether this is simply because of the focus on movement, careful breathing or simply the quiet time to switch off I would suggest everyone should try it at some point, pregnant or otherwise. I also suggest doing so with the door shut with no risk of interruption to save yourself any hippy shame!

Right, I know that was a quick one but having completed my afternoon yoga session it is about time I headed off for some green tea and chick pea curry!