The Activist's Guide to Health & Fitness
Saving the planet, one body at a time....
Being radical needn??t require one to sleep till noon, dress entirely in black, and sport a rail-thin heroin addict physique covered with tattoos and piercings? then again, neither should Michael Moore serve as anyone??s role model for healthy rebellion. Fitness ?? both mental and physical ?? is a crucial component for any serious subversive. If you think smashing capitalism is hard, try doing it with clogged arteries or carpal tunnel syndrome.
To follow are some suggestions designed to keep activists, uh, well?active.
WALK THIS WAY: Any dissident worth his or her non-sweatshop sneakers knows all about the destructive automobile culture. So, if you don??t want any part of the internal combustion engine while Corporate America wages war to keep the world safe for petroleum, walk. Walk for exercise. Walk as transportation. Walk during those all-day marches. Start your walking program here.
RE: CYCLING: With the possible exception of written language, the bicycle just might be humanity??s greatest invention. Cycling not only gets you from point A to point B without needing a car or SUV?it??ll condition your lungs, your legs, and your soul. Put a new spin on your revolution here.
DESK STOP: Those manifestos don??t write themselves?but what about all that time spent in front of the computer? Eye strain is one concern and then there??s the wear and tear on your wrists and forearms. Don??t forget to get up and stretch.
SIGNS OF TROUBLE: Holding up signs and placards during myriad protests and demonstrations can put undue stress on your shoulders. In an ironic twist, the exercise that might help you keep that anti-war slogan held high and proud is called a military press. I say we rename it the ??militant press.?
AB-NORMAL: When a cop whips out his nightstick, you can be certain it??s not because he??s happy to see you. Anyone who??s ever had their midsection jabbed with such a weapon can appreciate the value of strong abdominal muscles.
HANDCUFF HELPER: Having your arms yanked and bound behind you before being tossed onto a street corner or jammed onto a bus can cause damage to the muscles of the shoulder and upper back. To better prepare for this seemingly inevitable scenario, you might wanna seek help from the camel.
HOARSE PLAY: If you??ve ever screamed ??No justice, no peace? for hours on end, I don??t have to tell you what that does to your vocal cords. Fortunately, soothing relief is available without becoming a lab subject for a pharmaceutical conglomerate.
EAT FOR TWO (you and the planet): Aactivist??s eating habits offer the best opportunity to put theory into practice. If you consume a plant-based, whole foods, locally grown diet (organic, if and when possible), you??ve taken yourself out of the equation, re: animal cruelty, environmental devastation, corporate welfare, and a growing health holocaust. Learn more here.
THINK FAST: Hunger strikes are not for the weak of mind?or the amateur. Fortunately, there??s a way to prepare for those long tough days and nights camped out on the steps of the Capitol AND cleanse your body at the same time. Think fast.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this article is intended to replace professional (sic) medical or mental health care. Mickey Z. is not a health professional (sic)...nor does he play one on TV. He can, however, be found on the Web at mickeyz.net.
lol
Peace
