golf

What makes the best gym? The Zoo

/ antonioyrocinante / 3 Comments

I once wrote about the best gym in the world, but it is in Naples Fl, so it is not a viable daily option as an everyday gym. Which prompts the question, which is the best gym?

As usual, I was a bit of a late bloomer into the gym scene, although I have done a lot of sports since childhood, they were mostly outdoors. With age, and Boston winters I “discovered” resistance training as a critical part of one’s fitness journey. Since those winter days of 2010 I have been to many gyms and now have decent criteria for choosing a gym.

The factors to consider when choosing a gym might be:

Convenience, it is easy to get to for you. Ideally you could walk. These were my gyms in Boston (city Sports), Madrid (Metropolitan, Synergym) and Chapel Hill. If it is at all inconvenient that becomes a great excuse not to go… it is too far, there is no parking, etc. etc.

Size is important, you want to be able to mix up your workouts. You need a variety of cardio machines and enough of them to be able to get one when you need one. For example, my apartment building has a gym which is only an elevator ride away (no, there are no stairs to get to it, ironic), but it is rather small and limited, so I have reduced options for workouts.

Ideally it should have staff to help you with anything from helping you with technique to helping you with anything you might need.

It is in this aspect that The Zoo in Boynton Beach shines! Yes, it is only a few minutes away from home and yes it has enough machines and weights and spaces to be able to always do a workout. But it is (as usual) the people who welcome you and make you feel at home that makes the difference. Jennifer is always there with a blinding smile that makes you feel that little bit better to face your workout, she is always quick with advice, wise beyond her years, encouragement or just chit chat to get you motivated. Lorenzo will gladly check your posture or technique, or if you ask him will give you advice on specific workouts -beware of what you ask, or he will kick your ass (in a good way). I have learnt to only ask if I am up to giving that little bit extra to finish off my workout! Since I always do my workouts in the afternoon / evening, I do not usually see Mario, but he wears a permanent smile as he welcomes you and checks you in.

Some gyms offer all the amenities -which do not get me wrong, are nice. The Zoo has golf lessons and physical therapy, but at the end of the day you are going to the gym to work on your fitness and wellness, do not focus on the superficial aspects of your workout.

What makes a good gym for you? let me know in the comments!

The Walker Cup

/ antonioyrocinante / Leave a comment

Once in a while, on Friday after school a few elements will align and I actually stop at the Smoke Inn, my cigar lounge for a celebratory cigar, a “Happy Hour” as it were, a necessary attitude adjustment hour.

So there I am, enjoying a cigar and a libation, out on the porch, reading my book, and the TV is showing the opening ceremony of the Walker Cup, which happens to be at the Seminole Country Club which is a couple of blocks away from my friend Manuel’s house in Juno Beach. Since he is a golf fan and I am a good friend, I send him a photo telling him about it.

Sunday comes around and Manuel sends me a message that he is at the tournament and that I should go. I do, and we had a great time!

The Walker Cup is a competition between US and English (and Irish) amateur players i.e.: university guys (and it is only guys). We enjoyed watching a few holes, we savored a refreshment and overall, just had a good time! (Oh, and the Yanks won)

On minimalism

/ antonioyrocinante / 4 Comments

For the last few years, I have been trying to consciously deepen my spirituality. I have focused on my body – mind – soul connection, if you follow this blog (thank you), you will have already read about my retreats and my constant search for deeper meaning in life.

Well, one of the aspects of this process has to do with stuff, yes stuff – we have too much. For years, I have thought about my stuff, my belongings, clothes, furniture, accessories, gadgets, etc., and my attachment to them. In 2018 I got rid of many things when I moved back to Spain from the US, bringing with me only two suitcases and having only a couple of boxes –and two bicycles. This was not as traumatic as I thought it would be, and quite frankly I do not remember most of what I left behind. Now back in the US I am very conscious of how to go about starting, basically from scratch, since this time I only brought with me the two suitcases, no boxes, not even the bicycles!

Minder is meer. Mies van der Rohe

After four months I still do not have a sofa. Yes, I did buy a bed at Ikea, I am not sleeping on the floor just yet…. One of the many criteria about investing in new things is: Is it sustainable? My dining room table is from the Habitat for Humanity Store which means it is recycled and I helped others in my purchase.

Free of stuff I find it easier to focus, I am reading much more, I have not needed to hire a cleaning lady, I just sweep the floors once a week. Life is much, much easier! If you do some quick research you will find that the happiest people on the planet happen to be the Buddhist monks, further investigation will reveal that they only personally own about 8 things (something like 2 robes, 2 towels, a shaving blade, a bowl, a belt, and needle and thread). Obviously, I own many more things than a Buddhist monk, but a, there is a goal, and b, the important bit is being very conscious about your possessions.

Since in the US it is basically impossible to live without a car (except if you live in one of the few real downtowns) I bought a 2017 VW Golf. Possibly the best value for money in automobiles. As I stubbornly hold on to my vanity and ego, I did make sure it is a manual gearbox, because as everybody knows, if you drive stick you are a better person (or at least a cooler one).

The other day I saw a documentary about minimalism, based on a recent popular book, it reinforced everything I have been considering for the last few years. When I followed up on the documentary, I realized there is a whole movement dedicated to de-cluttering one’s life, simplifying, minimizing, tiny homes, etc. etc. I guess I am not as cutting edge as I thought I was, but at least it is good to know.

I used to have an empty cardboard wine bottle box and I would fill it with stuff that I no longer needed, clothes I no longer wore, books I had read and so on, and when it was full I would take it to the thrift shop and grab another empty box to start all over again!

There are many advantages to living with less stuff: you have more time to do things you would not do if you had a lot of things. For me, it is reading, I am reading a lot these days. Living with less means you save a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on buying things, duh. You also have more clarity, literally and figuratively.

In conclusion, I recommend you think about your things, what do you really need? and start a cleansing process, or call it a curating process and you might feel better about it. I think you will appreciate it. Have any thoughts or ideas? Let me know in the comments, thanks!