For the past six years, during my walks at the Brookline Reservoir, I see the same woman walking and pumping her arms with light weights in both hands. While it’s great that she is out walking, my curiosity is peaked by the weights. I want to commend her for walking regularly, but at the same time I want to gently ask her, “Why the weights? What are your goals? What is your intention? Are you strength training while walking? How can this be possible with super light weights?” I walk to inform her that walking or running with weights is injurious. I wonder if she has sustained any repetitive strain injuries.
This week I saw a man running while doing bicep curls with a set of heavy dumbbells. No kidding – it is hard enough to run with perfect alignment and form, let alone do curls at the same time. I thought – “Great that he’s exercising, but why do curls while running? What’s the point? It is a recipe for injury!
Yesterday, while driving, a man was rollerblading while pushing a child in a stroller in the middle of the street. Wow – I thought – that’s gutsy and scary. ‘He’s not only putting his life in danger, what about the child?”
What really irks me are the cyclists that ride without helmets while listening to music. Or the guy that skateboards down my hilly street during peak traffic without any protective gear either. What is it with these people who exercise with a lack of mindfulness? Bottom line – When it comes to our health and fitness we need to observe and to question our motives. We need to be informed and make appropriate and safe choices. We need to be mindful of how and why we exercise the way we do.
