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October 5th, 2010 by Gary
Hipworth
I go to a personal trainer weekly for a one hour workout which costs me $40. He makes me work a lot harder than I would if I was doing these same exercises at home because I pay him money and he makes me accountable. This seems like a good arrangement for both of us until I recall what an amazing time I had on the weekend just gone and compare the two ways of staying fit and healthy.
Last weekend my grandson Jed has his 4th birthday and the extended family consisting of my two daughters and their five children and two Dads gathered at Jed's mum's farm for a celebration. When the eating and soft drinks and birthday cake had been consumed we all gathered outside to kick a football and chase each other around the paddocks.
Now I just love these occasions and instantly become one of the 'kids' and try and outdo them when it comes to running and screaming and having fun. The football got kicked up into the pine trees a number of times and I climbed up to retrieve it, and got scratched and filthy for my troubles.
We also had to push our way through the thick bushy pine trees at times to fetch the ball on the other side and realising another opportunity to be a bit crazy, I pulled my tee shirt over my head and jumped straight through the trees, all the while screaming like a banshee. During the afternoon I was so exhausted that I thought I might have a heart attack! But I was having too much fun to take a rest and anyway a voice in my head was whispering 'what a great way to go'.
Three hours later, I said goodbye to all the family and drove wearily home. I could hardly walk. I had scratches and blood and sap from the trees all over my body. (OK maybe I am stretching it a bit). But I felt fantastically alive and glowing with health and I couldn't help comparing this experience with my personal trainer's methodical and well drilled but boring procedures.
And the family workout was free!
I also believe that having a crazy, fun-filled
playful day with the family beats the hell out of any win/lose sporting competition because everyone wins on family
day, even the kid who gets a black eye.
