A Dude’s Musings On Mother’s Day
Posted: May 12, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, intensity, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, mothers day, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, simplicity, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 10 CommentsI believe that sex is one of the most beautiful, natural, wholesome things that money can buy-
I wanted Mother’s Day to be different this year. I wanted to continue my climb upward on the Mother’s Day Classiness Gift Giving Scale. Last year was pretty pathetic, a cheap card from Target and a box of Govida Truffle’s. This year? I wandered into our local Lululemon bodega (our Lulu store is right next to a wine shop = Awesome!). What could possibly go wrong?
For us dudes, a few steps into a Lululemon store is a highly visual, sensual and erotic experience! We are greeted by provocatively attired mannequins, I mean staff … and, further back in the store, just beyond the camel toe concealing yoga pants, women are exiting fitting rooms attired in raiment that often do not seem to fit—literally, and with no pun intended, figuratively.
This sight started my mind wandering on this sultry weekend afternoon, with my lovely wife’s purse in one hand and a strawberry banana smoothie in the other: How damaging can a woman’s relationship with her body be? Damaging enough to result in pain of both a psychological and physical nature?
Throughout their lives, women of all ages must deal with idealized, societal norms and how they “measure up” in life. There are different stereotypes spanning the entire spectrum of a woman’s shape: A girl or woman with large breasts, thick hips may have to contend with unsavory assumptions about her sexuality. From a different angle, this same girl or woman may feel inadequate should she have smaller breasts and no hips. Both are patently absurd.
It is therefore not surprising to see women this afternoon squeezing into garments that don’t quite seem to fit, as they struggle daily with how they confront societal myths, that don’t quite fit.
So, I thought: “Maybe I won’t buy anything in this store? Maybe a bottle of dark chocolate wine from next door would be the better option?”
Happy Mother’s Day!
*Back by popular demand – The most viewed pic in the history of CultFit*
Short but Funky
Posted: May 8, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: 90's, blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, perspective, pilates, pop culture, quiz, running, simplicity, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 14 CommentsMan is the only creature who refuses to be what he is-
10 “things” that I learned in the 90’s that still resonate, painfully this morning on the mat:
The price is wrong!
There’s no crying in baseball.
In Paris, it’s a Royale with cheese.
You can’t handle the truth.
We are all connected in the Great Circle of life.
The bums lost.
Life finds a way.
Life is like a box of chocolates.
You can’t triple stamp a double stamp.
You need more flair.
Notes:
First response that can correctly name the movie the quotes appear in, wins something. There is consideration for style points and what these quotes are in reference to (Hint: I was the only dude in yoga class). Time to get creative peeps …
(I’m) Reckless
Posted: May 7, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Addiction, blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, intensity, jogging, kettlebell, kindness, life, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, pain, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, simplicity, social media, technology, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 10 CommentsIn this world of numbness and information overload, the ability to feel, my boy, is a rare gift indeed-
You scowl at your running partner(s) for running with headphones in. You can faintly hear ‘1901’ blasting from their ears. They are insistently checking their GPS watch, every ten steps, although 10 miles later during a quick stop to refuel? Out comes a magenta hued insta-message to let the world know you just slammed a gel pack. Don’t they realize how much it annoys you? The anger on your face is plain as day …
Remember when placing an emergency call meant stepping into a phone booth? Today’s electronic do-dad’s and wireless communications gadgets have made it possible for us to handle emergencies in near real-time, help us to find and reconnect with long-lost friends and the best part: Fantasy Sports. Although all of this “convenience” we have at our finger tips comes at a steep price. The incursion of technology into our lives both at home and while out for an evening run, means less down time and we become ungrounded from our true spirit (tomorrows post). FaceTube and iThings rip into and tear apart relationships and thwart leisure pursuits. I often lament about leisure/life balance, oddly the term “Balance” seems to be a thing of the past.
What in the world is the meaning of balance anymore?
Steeping back from the running story, we as families are feeling this pain at home as well. Social experiment for the day: Engage a teenager in an eye to eye conversation. Let me know how that works out for you. Today’s teens have booth feet, wading chest deep in a technology sinkhole, sad.
Notes:
Know what? It’s rather easy to blame social media and technology, I should know, I am rather adept at it. Over the past fortnight I have been thinking about this issue ad nauseam, what “balance” truly means, the mixed blessing and danger of technology and many other things (NHL Playoffs). Even though social media and technology have placed the world at our feet, the 24/7 access impedes our spiritual health and quality of life.
Ask yourself today: Has the convenience been worth it?
My Moment
Posted: April 22, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awareness, blogging, crossfit, Earth Day, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, jogging, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, minimalism, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, simplicity, strength, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 6 CommentsLife is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans-
Often at times we focus primarily on our bodies, the results or the lack there of is: We often neglect our mind.
We have often spoke about one way to relax your body and mind: Consistent meditation practice. A quiet mind is a powerful mind, especially so during the last few miles of a local race or a few extra push ups before you leave the gym. Extraneous thoughts that amass during the day will reduce our focus. When we can calm our minds through meditation? The body becomes free, energized and your true ability lies at your fingertips.
Feel free to insert your chosen mediation practice within the quotes: “…”
Learning how to sit quietly, without actually “doing” anything other than focusing on your breath is vitally important. Learn to appreciate the “present moment,” because it will after all … vanish in a few seconds.
Notes:
An expanding awareness of our strengths (quiet, focused mind) and vulnerabilities (neglecting our bodies and ignoring pain) helps each of us to endure difficult times with more equanimity. It becomes a pleasure to stand your ground during tricky situations with a calm mind, not out of stubborn pride. Pride breaks each of us over time.
Happy Earth Day and please be well today!
To love life
Posted: April 18, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: exercise, fitness, Flesh and Blood, free range, Grief, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, simplicity, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 24 Comments… to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you’ve held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you, again.
Notes:
Smile and be well today.
CultFit 