What’s the most fun way to exercise?
I’m surrounded by young adults, so I get to see some of the ways younger generations make exercise fun.
One student heads into the city for a dance class at the Sydney Dance Company. That sounds like fun. Others are into bouldering, joining niche gyms built around that one pursuit. Some play half-court basketball. I don’t mind running, but for me it only really makes sense when it has a purpose, when it belongs to a game or some larger activity.
Football is closer to my style. I have always loved team sports. There is something deeply enjoyable about being caught up in a game with others, drawn into a shared rhythm and purpose. But that gets harder as you get older. There comes a point when the body is not well suited to competitive team sport, even if the instinct for it remains.
I suppose that is why I’ve noticed that people enjoy exercise for different reasons. Some people love competition. Some love solitude. Some love rhythm. Some love scenery. Some love routine.
At this stage of life, I think I’m less drawn to competition and more drawn to scenery. I still love the bush. I love the challenge of a strenuous walk. I love the way it stretches my body and clears my mind at the same time. For me, that may now be the most fun way to exercise: not chasing a ball, but following a track; not trying to win, but still being tested; not leaving the world behind, but paying closer attention to it.
The Afterword 
Leave a comment