By Erica

Whatever discipline I have mustered in my life, it sadly has not extended to regular exercise. It’s not for want of good intentions. I have tried. I have signed up for all sorts of clubs all over town. Near home. Near my office. I paid for lockers. I abandoned sneakers, in all of them. 

Every birthday, every New Year’s, every time I feel a little off, I resolve to do better. I join another gym. Sign up for a personal trainer. It may last for as long as a month--or two. I may visit once in a while and get on a bike and lift some weights and do something on a machine--or two. But nothing sticks. At least not as a regular matter. 

The good news is that since I stopped working full time, I walk. A lot. Almost everywhere I can. Somewhere near 10,000 steps isn’t that hard most days. And I feel good about that. It’s regular, I enjoy it. It’s good for me. Hallelujah.

But I have been thinking that that’s not enough. I want (more accurately I need) to do more. And so I harkened back to the one thing that I did do, longer than any other.  It involves no equipment. It can be done anywhere. Don’t laugh. It’s called the Royal Canadian Exercise Plans for Physical Fitness. You can get them online or in book form. One set for women (XBX) , one for men. For us, ten exercises, 12 minutes a day, with increasing intensity. There’s some basic yoga stuff you can add too.  

I have now been doing them in my living room for over a month. I like it. It’s quick. There’s a sense of accomplishment. They say it works.

I’ve even read that Helen Mirren does them. Can’t be all bad.