  |
|
|
|
Last month there was a feature on the news about a new $6000 personal mobility concept. It is a two-wheeler, with the wheels aligned axially, not like a scooter, and it looked like it had very good maneuverability and controls on slopes. It runs on very little energy, requiring one battery for a whole day's use.
The only exercise I get is my daily walk to and from work and university. Without the walk, I feel a little less energetic and a little more irritable. When I was in Japan, I chose no to have a car for a year, then gave into the splendours of the more remote countryside and bought a cheap little car. I quickly found that I was using it to get to the school where I worked every day, and for some reason it took me weeks to figure out why I turned so lethargic but found it difficult to sleep. My forty minutes' walk a day had stopped when I bought that car, and with it my daily exercise. I decided to resume walking to and from school, and only use the car for trips that were too far or involved carrying heavy things. I immediately found it easier to sleep at night, now that my body had had a good stretch and reasonable workout, and I just felt more relaxed in general. I have continued to walk whenever possible. If a drive will take about five minutes, I will walk the distance instead. I save on parking, fuel, and I get my exercise. I was amused to hear recently that some diet and fitness consultant on TV talked about "incidental exercise," a "new" concept that we can get our exercise doing daily activities. The main form of "incidental exercise" was walking instead of driving to the local shop. I couldn't believe that people needed to be told this! When I am glumly anticipating a very rushed walk to lectures, or an approaching hill, I remind myself how much better I feel both physically and mentally after I have arrived at my destination. If I want to get somewhere faster, I don't need a battery, I can use my bike. More coordinate people can use skateboards, scooters and rollerblades. I have no idea why people who pay money for gym membership drive everywhere, and it baffles me to see people dress up in lycra and put the bikes on the back of their cars to get to a place to ride their bikes... why not ride their bikes to do their daily chores? I get a good weight workout when I carry my groceries home from the shop, especially having to hold the bags up to stop them banging against my legs. It seems ridiculously simple, but really, I feel pretty good when I get home! Go To Page: 1 2 |
|
|
|
