Getting Back on the Bike: Joyful Movement and Self-Care
After several years of Peloton life, my spouse and I started to chat about buying e-bikes and leaving the house. (I partially kid, when two homebody introverts get married, you usually have to drag them places!).
We had very early e-bikes about 15 years ago but eventually the batteries wore out and replacements weren’t really a reasonable option. As a very early Christmas gift this year, we bought ourselves the nicest bikes we’ve ever had and have barely set them aside since.
Well, except for the few days where he was in the hospital with an acute illness (he’s fine now). Or the week after that when we took a break because I fell off the dumb bike at a railroad crossing (I’m fine now). Or the days we had even dumber Covid. SIGH. But happily, as soon as I could, I got back up and rode the bike.
And I know, I know there’s the old adage of never forgetting to ride a bike, but you kind of do?! Balancing yourself on a moving two-wheeled object is no joke – and any hint on sinus trouble (welcome to my ongoing life) can really impact your balance.
It may be a smidge cheesy, but I’ve been thinking about the lesson of getting back up. Trust me when I say there was a part of me thinking I’d give up biking after I toppled off. In the continuing exhaustion I have from Covid recovery, it’s not as easy some days to get up and get moving. But we go anyway.
This morning, despite being really tired and dealing with a four day sinus headache, we rode nearly 10 miles. We have plans for a 20+ mile ride later this week. Here are the benefits I’m finding of getting back on the bike and going even when it’d be easier to find a reason not to. Your mileage may vary (literally) but maybe making a list of something you enjoy and why is a good practice today for honoring your own self-care.
I believe in joyful movement. As a woman who grew up in the most dysfunctional days of diet culture, I am working hard to find movement that is joyful and that I find fun. Regardless of what my body looks like or how I feel in it some days, I want to move for joy, not calorie burning. I want to disconnect the food I eat from the movement I require of my body. Some days I do that well – others, I remember that we encouraged women in the 90s to eat cabbage soup for days on end to lose 10 pounds and ponder if that still works. It’s a work in progress.
I also believe in exercising for health. Of course, I also want to take good care of this one body I have. My mom is gone too early. Last year, a childhood friend died of cancer – she was one day younger than me. I follow a beautiful 20-something newly-minted medical resident in the U.K. who has terminal cancer and keeps living her best life anyway. Exercise will not give me immunity to all disease but it helps with my flexibility, my cardiovascular health, and my mental health. Working out is an exercise in gratitude for my own healthy body (my mom would love that pun).
Having a fun thing to do with your person is really lovely. Riding bikes with my husband is fun. We enjoy the activity together, we get to do a good thing for our bodies while also hanging out, and frankly flying down a hill at top speed makes me feel like a kid again. I like sharing that with him!
Biking gives me time to think. While I am biking with my husband, I am also in my own little world with time to think about all kinds of things. Last week I mapped out this week’s Writing & Research workshop for MBA students in my head. This morning I mostly thought about how glad I am that even when I feel less than my best, my body works. Some days I just think about the research we’re doing on the best dog trailer for bikes so the dogs can join in.
Biking gives me different goals to reach. I’m working on better balance and less of a handlebar death grip with progress on both. We’re faster than we were and we go longer distance with ease (believe me an e-bike that requires pedaling to go is still a pretty good workout!). I have rides I want to achieve, health metrics I’m aiming for, and numbers of rides per week to try. The best version of me has things she’s reaching for regardless of where she’s focused. I even have goals for playing The Sims, it’s just who I am.
Taking care of me allows me to be my best for others. The last few weeks have been rough. I normally attend my yoga studio 3-4 times a week in addition to biking. With Covid, obviously, I didn’t do that. I can tell a huge difference in my spirit and my tolerance for the nonsense of daily life! As I slowly return to my normal, I am reminded of how important taking care of me is.
Frankly, I think the adage of “self-care is never selfish” isn’t quite right. We can focus on ourselves to a selfish point rather easily actually! My understanding of my faith demands sacrifice for others in ways I think our culture is too eager to ignore. But the truth is that making time for joyful movement, eating well, clearing space for hobbies, and honoring rest is not inherently selfish. Taking care of me allows me to be a better spouse, daughter, sister, friend, and employee. That’s a pretty good return on investment!