Over the past five years I have had an annual photo shoot with my dear friend and trainer Teresina. Here are two (of the 500) from our most recent photo shoot. Teresina is passionate about her stationary bicycle, so this is a sexy pose with her buddy, the bike. The second one shows her surrounded by her beloved pit bulls. Any questions as to who is the pack leader here?
As a gin enthusiast, I was happy to receive a book from Larry Moore: Patrick Dillon’s 2004 publication called “Gin,” about gin in the 18th century, and especially in England. By the end of the 17th century, taxes on ale had become so high, that people were having to reluctantly abandon their drink of choice. With the appearance of cheap gin, London fell under the spell of “Madam Geneva.” Gin was the crack of the time, cheap, addictive, life ruining, and sometimes fatal. I read with disbelief that people were drinking it as they did ale, and dropping dead from alcohol poisoning. The Hogarth etching above shows the devastation this new drug had on London in the early 1700s.
My trainer, Teresina, has always been on my case about the dangers of gin. I have no idea why, seeing as how I subscribe to Dorothy Parker’s alleged maxim:
I like to have a martini
Two at the very most
After three I’m under the table
After four I’m under the host.
I even clipped the NY Times article claiming that a shaken martini is the highest in all anti-oxidants of all spirits––no, not as high as red wine, but still.
On Saturday, Daniel, Mark Carlson and I all decided to go to Kara’s Nail Bar on Melrose and have a mani/pedi. Mark and I were virgins. The Vietnamese foot and hand manipulators (or whatever the hell they are called) giggled. There we were, the three of us GUYS sitting in these black vibrating chairs with our feet in foamy liquid, also bubbling. Fortunately I didn’t have any ticklish issues, Mark did. Clip, clip, clip. Buff, buff, sand, brrrrrrr, rub, rinse, scrape, oil on the toenails, cellophane around my feet for “the calousses.” A strange skinburning smell wafted up. Then she slapped me on the arms like: ol buddy, ol pal. (This meant that my foot session was over.) I smiled as though I understood the tradition. She moved to my hands. Clipped the nails and hangnails, astray cuticles and God knows what else. Mark’s gal popped all of his toes. Mine didn’t. I was over it. I also got arm massage because I told her my arms hurt. Daniel and Mark were pissed because they DIDN’T get arm massages.
Being a pedicure virgin, my toenails were verging on being hooves (according to Daniel) and SOMETHING had to be done. Our toenails become more brittle as we age, and what worked as a 23 year old doesn’t work as a 53 year old. So my nail reality has been changing of late. I’m embarassed to never have availed myself of this small luxury. So gentlemen, if you have never had a manicure, or a pedicure for that matter, realize that life can be even better with a manicure and pedicure from time to time. Alright, I don’t give a damn about these weird glossy nails I have now, but I figure I’ll do some gardening tomorrow and they’ll be back to normal. Indulge yourself. Like me, you’ll kick yourself for not doing it sooner.
•
Yesterday we went to a group birthday party at Teresina’s (my trainer). I couldn’t believe it. She made FRIED PIZZA. O my god, it was sooooo good. We were surrounded by pit bulls. Teresina takes in homeless pit bulls to find them new homes. There were also probably 6 children under the age of 7 co-mingling unsupervised with these dogs. Nothing happened. The dogs and children were beautifully “trained” and smart. Wow. We also met Chrissie B’s two beautiful children. The girl, 13, we were convinced that she will be Executive of some major Manhattan firm by the time she is 25. The boy was a real looker, and obviously well educated by his parents. No witty comment seemed to escape him. He was fascinated with Daniel. “Your eyes are ALWAYS moving, like this [imitates Daniel]; and your mouth always does this [imitates again]. Why do you do that?” This kid was proabably 11 or 12. He did NOT seem gay whatsoever. But his record button was ON with Daniel. He was fascinated with Daniel’s every move and everything he said. I flashed back into my own past thinking about certain older boys that were my role models whom I looked up to.
On our way home Daniel said: “I want kids.” I said I don’t. He clarified: “I want kids in our lives. I know your ‘kids’ are your students.” I agreed. I said that to me, the ability to teach and communicate with K-12 students is a gift. A GIFT. Not something losers do. Yes, there are some bad teachers out there, just as there are bad anythings out there. But he knows that I prefer teaching those who have already decided that they want to be musicians. I have no interest in teaching younger students. I am thrilled to have a partner who loves children and whom children love. I’m content to be the mysterious cloud to his side (who was that?) who will teach him or her something later.
As with any exercise program, discuss the R4YL! plan with your doctor before you get started. Don’t jump ahead. This is a progressive program. Start where you are. Learn the difference between actions that are productive and those that are destructive. An injury can stop you in your tracks. Respect your fitness level; don’t think you need to impress anyone with how much or how little you are lifting. These baby steps are the building blocks for achieving our goals.
Be careful. Honor your progress, at whatever pace you proceed. Start with little changes. Living a healthy lifestyle does not come over night. It is overwhelming to do everything all at one time. If you are truly interested in achieving a more healthy way of life, a stronger body, increased energy, peaceful attitude, independence, and balance, START. Start this second. Start with one big breath. Start with one positive thought, one good stretch, one short walk, one dance in your room, one nutritious meal, one tiny vitamin, and one step will lead to another.
Teresina with Midge and Rudy
If you go to the gym, or to a fitness class, good for you! Great! Don’t stop. R4YL! will enhance what you are already doing, provide an increase in metabolism, and act as a substitute on the days you miss sessions.
On the other hand, for those of you looking for something different, or are not doing anything at all, consider a “gym” in your own home or apartment in a space that can be as small as 2 x 3. R4YL! can make any small space your own personal home gym. Everything you need is very affordable and simple. Most importantly, you can be finished with your workout in the time that it would take you just to travel to the gym.
R4YL! is possible because of the stationary bicycle. “Stationary” doesn’t really describe how we approach this marvelous machine. Most other fitness machines only offer repetitive motion. R4YL! allows for more freedom of movement. This allows us to specifically target a variety of muscle groups: biceps, triceps, shoulders, back, and chest, leaving no room for monotony. And, working in this so-called stationary position, R4YL! can guide you to fitness in ten minutes of an intense, safe, and metabolism-building workout. In as much space as a bike takes (mine fits on a 2ft.x 3ft mat), we will create your own personal gym. You will work, ride, breathe, live, laugh, cry and transform in this personal space created by you, for you!
Prices for a stationary bicycle range from quite inexpensive to several thousand dollars. Or, get one at a garage sale, or in your local classified ads. The bike takes up minimal space, and requires little, if any, maintenance. There is no need for expensive sneakers, clothing, or equipment. The bike might be dangerous if you fall off, so small children shouldn’t be left unattended, but besides that, it is virtually stress free!
If you are regaining your strength, recovering in some way, or pregnant, or elderly, check with your doctor; the bike is very likely at the top of the list! Next to swimming, the bike comes in at a close second as the safest, yet most intense workouts you can have. R4YL! is an excellent way to heal and restore.
When choosing a bike, make sure the seat is comfortable. If you have hemorrhoids, try special cushions, or consult your physician in extreme cases.
I prefer upright bikes as they allow for more movement and require the torso to work harder. But if you already have a recumbent bike, by all means, use that.
The movement required of the knee in bike riding keeps the patella (knee cap) smooth. In my knee, the cartilage damage is so extensive, that my orthopedic surgeon cannot believe I am not crawling into his office. But riding for my life has not only kept me lean, it has strengthened the surrounding muscles and kept my knee strong and flexible. Along with swimming, cycling is the best way to keep your knees, butt and legs in shape, without bulking them up. Guys, if you want big legs, you will need to also hit the weights.
When sitting on the bike you do not want the leg fully extended. The rotation of the pedals should be smooth, not jerky. Always be aware of your rotation. Do not let your legs lock or buckle. Take the time to find the correct seat placement. You may find after riding regularly, you will need to adjust the seat again. As your body slims up and gets leaner, you may need additional room. This is a great sign!
© 2006 Teresina Sullo
My father, ready to buy a stationary bicycle, wrote me to ask Teresina’s advice on what kind of bicycle to buy. Here is her response (I’ve kept her e e cummings punctuation and poetic lineation).
Dear Roger’s Dad,
I prefer a good sturdy upright bike.
however, you have to work harder to support
the upper body.the recumbent bike makes for a nice smooth ride
you still have to work hard,
but you have a back supportif you and your wife are going to ride regularly
and you might even put in tv area
i suggest the recumbent
but remember to not get lazy
you have to sit up straight
abs in!by adding a few arms to your bike routine
you will work the heart harder
burn more calories
accomplish more at one time
(more conditioning)
and best, keep it from getting terribly BORING!i’m working on a mini routine dvd.
feel free to ask more questions.
as far as buying one…
probably go shopping and sit on them
it’s mainly the seat comfort for recumbent
and tension for upright (sometimes tooooo hard!)start with sears
or even a used one!!
don’t need to spend a lot.hope this helps,
l,t
My Dad lives with my mom, Jo Ann, in Sun City West, AZ with two dogs and a great house, full of stuff that is their life, and stuff that they are slowly giving away, selling, or throwing away. He has two articles today that may resonate with some of you. One on “Good Friday” and one on wise choices in one’s senior years. He was a great protestant minister for 40-some years, first United Methodist, and then United Church of Christ. He retired some time ago and after urging him to consider starting a blog, he has and realizes that he still has a hell of a lot to say. And it doesn’t require preparing a sermon, driving to work, managing a church and all that that entails. Some of Rog and Jo Ann’s favorite pasttimes these days is sitting in the Arizona room, each with their respective laptops in their laps, Jo Ann playing one of her many solitaire games (a passion she passed on to me), and my Dad surfing the internet and working on his blog. They are voracious readers and usually have their instant messaging programs on so that any of their five kids can chat with them if they wish. Their children live all over the country: Roger III (me) lives in LA, Andy lives in Andover MA, Elizabeth lives in Surprise AZ, Peter lives in Minneapolis, and Joe lives in Omaha. I know they are very proud of us all. In the spirit of my post yesterday, I don’t need an authorized mothers day or fathers day to say: Thanks Mom and Dad for being such good parents and friends. We love you!
“Eyes Closed: Rog and Jo Ann in Love” photo by Roger Bourland (III)
Photo by Roger Bourland
Ride 4 Your Life! is a program that developed in my life as a result of overcoming chronic fatigue, self-deprecation, an injured knee, and ultimately, fear of becoming FAT. It became a way of life, a day-to-day application of putting my efforts where they would get me the best results, physically and mentally. It has become a way to strengthen my body without re-injury, not be fat, and still be able to EAT.
I believe there is a great need to change our perceptions of working out, what it is, how to do it, how to find the time, and what it means. R4YL! is not just a workout, it’s a philosophy: A fierce belief that you can have what you want in all areas of your life. It’s a reinvention of how you feel about yourself, how you feel about food, how you can cultivate a new attitude, and once and for all take off excess weight and keep it off.
R4YL! is a PLAN –– a life-long plan that you can follow. It doesn’t mean you cannot do other things, and I hope that as you get stronger, and more in tune with your body you will, but this is the groundwork. Perhaps you’ve been asking, even praying for an answer? If you just knew what to do, and how to get started. Pretend for a moment that this just might be the solution. The Plan!
Certainly, if health problems or injuries are preventing you from being fit, then this program is for you. That’s why it’s called Ride 4 Your Life! Literally, you are riding for your life! Riding away from a slow metabolism, bad circulation, heart disease, extra pounds and the hospital! R4YL! strives for balance by working the entire body. R4YL! promotes movement as the catalyst for complete unity of body, mind, and spirit. Without it, we have difficulty functioning properly and effectively. It safely challenges all of our muscles, getting results quickly so that we truly feel this synergy. The spirit will thrive, the mind will gain clarity, the body’s tensions will relax, and the metabolism will race with R4YL!
“I’ve learned so much about my own strength, not just physically, but mentally as well, and about how the two are connected. The bike workout has started to shape my whole body physically and has elevated my mood as well.”
Stephanie Pohl, hair stylist, West Hollywood, CA.
[From "Ride 4 Your Life!" © 2006 Teresina Sullo.]
Photo by Roger Bourland
Heart disease is the number one killer in this country, and most of it is reversible. Diabetes is no longer for the old, it is taking over our young people, and can be reversible if caught early. Diabetes, early signs of heart disease, and obesity are at epidemic proportions. And in our children! This is serious. We are not meant to live life ailing. If you have children, give them life-long skills now; skills that will help them escape the fear and self-deprecation you have so often felt.
Try to keep health part of who you are moment to moment. Take a deep breath, and with every thought, envision yourself as a healthy person. Every ride. One ride at a time.
PAIN
It doesn’t matter who walks into my studio–a thin, fit firecracker of a gal, an overweight Mom, an injured (physically or emotionally) man, or an obese child – all share pains and obstacles that are relative. One of my favorite quotes is from the film “The Princess Bride:”
“Life is full of pain, Highness, and anyone that says otherwise is trying to sell you something.”
Having been injured, I don’t wish it on anyone. The pain is secondary to the limitations and aggravation that come with it. These are very real concerns, especially for those of us that have been injured, or are recovering; carrying thirty pounds or more of excess weight; are pregnant or elderly.
FEAR
Thank you, Marianne Williamson for changing my life:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. [“A Return To Love” by Marianne Williamson.]
When fear guides us, we pay the price. FEAR is a most destructive emotion. It acts is without concern, lacks clarity, and worst of all creates disease and anxiety. Anger, jealousy, and addiction are remnants it leaves in its path. I’ve lived in fear: It was terrifying. It’s not a constructive emotion. I avoid it whenever possible, and I hope you are able to do the same. The progress we make with R4YL! can eliminate fear and replaces it with health confidence, and exuberance. How do I know, because I’ve been able to do it myself. I see it in my clients everyday. Never being afraid you’re going to be fat again can bring an inner peace that instantly dissolves fear!
[From "Ride 4 Your Life!" by Teresina Sullo; © 2006]
Photo by Roger Bourland.
The number one reason we cite for not exercising is lack of time, and it’s true –– who really has time to go to the gym? The demands we put on ourselves, and the priorities of the day barely leave us enough time to take a shower.Is it practical for most people to get to the gym everyday? Yes I suppose, if you are an actor, dancer, model, athlete, unemployed, kept, or convicted (just kidding). We are all familiar with the reasons most of us abandon our prepaid memberships long before the contract ends: the traffic, the travel, the parking, the club, the card, the changing, the forgotten locks, sneakers, deodorant, the music you don’t like, the search for a place to stretch, and the eternal wait for machines. It wears me out just thinking about it! Hence, we have more guilt. “Bad me, bad me,” and more wasted energy. It’s this thinking that makes us unhealthy.
Then after deserting the gym, some of us go out and purchase fancy home equipment –– and we all know what happens to that. Sooner or later you’ll have a garage sale. Haven’t we all been to a garage sale and seen one of those monsters with a tag on it: “only used twice; Sacrifice.” Uh-huh. More guilt. More wasted energy, time, and money.
Tapes? They can work sometimes. But many of us get bored: the teacher isn’t good, or there’s not enough room in your home, as you bruise yourself bumping into furniture, or it’s too dang hard to follow along making you feel even more foolish. And because of all this hassle, most of us give up.
But with our bike, (your future body part), there is no fancy footwork, no kicking, jumping or dancing around on steps. There is no ankle or knee twisting, no pounding. You’ll find that it is much easier to concentrate. With a little awareness, you’ll take the pressure off the lower back, strengthen the muscles, and do abdominal work, all while you ride your stationary bike! This does not mean however that this program is “no sweat.” It requires concentration. It demands co-ordination and good form. You can constantly add to it without injury in order to keep it challenging, and by using the arms and legs at the same time, your rev up your metabolism.
© 2006 Teresina Sullo
[A continuation of the first chapter in Teresina's book called "Ride 4 Your Life."]
After my knee became stronger, I got cocky and bored (a very dangerous combination). Between swimming, the clothes changing, chlorine hair, and having to go to the gym, it was just too much to do everyday. And I also wanted to sweat. I needed something to get my adrenaline going the way that aerobics did. The treadmill and the stair stepper put too much stress on my joints, and because of that, I couldn’t use them, ever.
Reneé suggested that I get on the stationary bike and ride –– fast! So, through no choice of my own I discovered the bike. Even better, there was no stress and no weight-bearing, joint-jolting damage. But, after a while, although I was getting a lot of reading done, some how something was missing. More than that, I got BORED. Really bored. I ached to move, longed for the exhilaration I felt when I danced. And although I was sustaining a healthy weight, I still felt like it was a struggle. When I did the aerobics and the swimming, when all the parts of my body were being used, I could eat and lose weight, which was (and still is) my favorite thing. There I was at the gym, working out for 45 minutes at a clip, but needed to exercise my upper body after that. So after an hour plus, I’m still not feeling great. There had to be something more; I was only working my lower body, and my upper body was just…there.
Then I had a thought. I decided I would try to do everything that I had done in classes over the years with my arms, ON THE BIKE. I started moving, and something happened. My heart began to pound, and I started to get sweaty! I immediately felt the blood and endorphins coursing through my body. It was joyous, I was pumped, I was high. I danced –– and then ––– I got bored again, which is not unusual for me.
I had done some weight training over the course of my physical education, so I knew how to use weights effectively. I thought to myself, “How boring, just standing here doing all these reps, why take the extra time after the bike exercise? Why not just do my free-weight exercises at the same time!”
Who would run with weights? It’s much too dangerous. But if you are sitting, if you don’t have to worry about falling, or injuring yourself, or losing your balance, or tripping, it becomes safe! Your legs are going around and around and around, working, pumping, moving, but you can concentrate on upper-body sculpting, breathing, burning fat, accurate form, letting go of tension and igniting the metabolism –– which is the key to weight loss!
As I moved the weights, I felt my whole body working. This was cool. Whether I was doing a portebra (a ballet arm movements), or a military press (an overhead press with weights), I could feel my body energized. I was getting an all over workout, not experiencing boredom, getting skinny and eating! I was getting more done in less time. I was wearing myself out and loving it. I didn’t have to have a teacher, a pool, a studio, a gym, or a class. I felt liberated. I felt in control.
As time went on, I added bands and bars, and as time went on, a program that will keep you fit and happy –– in just ten minutes a day –– was born. The best news for me is that, after all these years, I’m still not bored. There is always something new to come up with: a new move, a new exercise, a new stretch, something to think about, or music –– new or old –– to inspire me to perspire.
After many years of torturing myself, I now have chosen to dedicate my energy to something that has become profoundly worthwhile. And after years of self-abuse, eating disorders, bad relationships, doormat behavior, and the everlasting desire for skinniness, I have found a program that I can’t wait to share with you: it’s call Ride 4 Your Life!
© 2006 by Teresina
This just in from Daniel Shiplacoff.
Omigod. Blooks.
A book serialized on a blog. Well, I seem to be doing that with my Rufus book already. And Teresina’s book on health is a regular. And curiouser and curiouser. And….
The History of Blooks by Tony Pierce
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