Rest?

June 11th, 2022| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

You know what you need after coming out of two years of a pandemic? Rest.

And gyms are capitalizing on that need. Yes, gyms! Gyms are now offering … rest!

So reported The Wall Street Journal the other day. Gyms are seeing more demand for gentler classes, and they’re expanding their more mellow offerings like yoga and meditation and stuff. And rolling out “recovery” rooms with massage lounge chairs and self-massage gadgets.

Wrote Jen Murphy of WSJ:

The evening workout that Russ Frank, a 50-year-old transit worker, engages in reminds him of preschool nap time. He lies on a mat and pillows in a dimly lighted room and follows an instructor through a series of gentle stretches while calming music plays. Aptly named Surrender, the hourlong, restorative yoga class has been packed since his Houston gym, part of the Life Time Group Holdings Inc. chain, reopened from the pandemic. The chain has increased the number of Surrender classes by an average of about 50% across its locations compared with 2019, it says.”

I’d always thought of gyms as a place to break out into a sweat. But I guess we all need our rest!

Months of stress and sweatpants have shifted priorities for gym customers: many say they now care more about how they feel versus how they look. The Mindbody app surveyed 16,000 Americans and reported that 43% are exercising to feel better and 59% to reduce stress.

I’m all for that: “no pain—yes gain” approach!

WSJ:

Starting in May, Crunch Fitness will bring back its ‘rainbow’ meditation classes at many locations. They are focused on the body’s ‘chakras’ or energy channels that are associated with different colors. Also on tap are new classes focused on breathwork and stretching. Crunch is also adding ‘rest and recover’ areas to its facilities.”

Oh, and the vocabulary is changing, too. Meek and mild is the key. Most gym classes now start with “positive affirmations” and end with meditation and breathing work. Enough of those high-intensity interval workouts.

WSJ again:

Mr. Frank, who takes Life Time’s Surrender class in Houston, still spins and lifts weights in the morning, but says the pandemic pause made him crave more rest in his routine. He said that he’d focused on intense workouts for years and never had time for recovery. Now he has found that the sleepy yoga class ‘guarantees a good night’s sleep.’”

Later this year, 24 Hour Fitness locations in California and Colorado will debut recovery areas in partnership with Houston-based wellness company iCRYO. Instead of a post-workout green juice and sauna session, members will be able to restore sore muscles in cryotherapy chambers and get vitamin shots and IV drip infusions of nutrients.

Golly! All that to get some … rest!

I have a better idea:

When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness!
In [my] distress, relieve me;
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1

Yup, go to God. He cares!

But know that Yahweh has set apart the devout for Himself;
Yahweh himself hears when I call Him.
Psalm 4:3

The “devout” (Hebrew: khasid) are those who have experienced God’s lovingkindness (Hebrew: khesed).

But not all agree:

Many [are] saying, “Who will show us good?
The light of Your face has fled from over us, Yahweh!”
Psalm 4:6

To that, the psalmist answers:

You have put joy in my heart ….
In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
for You alone [are] Yahweh;
You make me to dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:7–8

There’s your source of rest! God alone!

SOURCE:
The Wall Street Journal