I’m sooooo fucking tired. Yesterday was good, managed to get the nasties while helping my Scotsman put insulation in the attic. So, instead, I started planning my Generic Holiday party for next month.

As for today, PM is officially gone, left the coffee pot to attempt suicide with no water on the boiler. Made peace with MM. Couldn’t believe he was so pissed for so long (granted, he was pissed at himself – IMO). Turns out he didn’t quite grasp the fact that he can ask for help, and get it (he was mostly mad about the fact that he helps everyone and no one helps him – the power of asking, imagine).

While in the shower, I had an interesting pondering. Before I hopped in, I was watching one of CNN’s news-thingies on health. They were interviewing people who had managed to lose mass amounts of weight, and kept it off. The woman they’ve interviewed has been on several other segments on weight control. I sat watching her. In watching her, I managed to find all the muscles that aren’t healthy. Now, body-wise, yes, I’d say she’s healthy. She maintains her weight well, she eats healthy, has healthy habits; but in gaining them, she’s made things swing the other way. Her muscles are over-toned, in constant state of contraction, her pelvis is grossly tilted forward. I’d even be willing to bet she has low back pain (not much, but will grow). Anyway, this came back to my own workout sessions, and a small conversation that I had with my eventual trainer (when I can manage the funds). He was talking to me about diet, exercise, all that jazz. My main goal is health. I want to be healthy, I want to feel healthy. His comments, were that yoga is great for stretching, but not for much else – note: he admits he’s never taken a yoga class. Diet? Well, he’s more of the Adkin’s persuasion, I’m more of the Harvard persuasion. The thing I think we both agreed on was the fact that working the entire body out in different manners is the most efficient. This then brings me to how I actually work out. I believe in lengthening to strengthen (you’ll find this in Ballet workouts). It allows the muscle to maintain its resting length, while increasing its contractility. Yoga Journal had an interesting article on this concept a couple months ago. It posed the question, “How do you effectively workout a contracted muscle?” Well, rational, you can’t. When a muscle is contracted, sustaining weight upon it only increases muscular endurance. In order to effectively workout a muscle, it must be lengthened before it can be contracted. Prime example of this issue are ab workouts. Best method to workout your abs, is to start with an arched back (supported properly to avoid low back strain).

Now, my real ponderance: Health begins as a state of being, not a state of existence. That is why yoga, tai chi, and other Eastern theories work so well. When the MindBody is in balance with the spirit, the muscles will work as they need to, the body will transform into the shape best needed for its existence and health will be achieved. The muscles will be in balance, neither the protagonist nor the antagonist muscle will maintain constant contraction. Instead, they will sit in a constant state of act/react preparedness with each being at perfect rest. Want to see this in action? Watch a 6th degree black-belt (of any art) walk, run or ride a bike. It’s absolutely beautiful and amazing at the level, which, the human body can perform at, in even the most basic of movements.