Looking at around-the-house jobs as being Zen-like fitness exercises can be a great way to gain a little fitness or even increase muscle size all without having to endure the indignities of being in a gym filled with a lot of interesting smells and more than a few bulging biceps. Though people may not appreciate the purity involved in Zen and housework it’s probably because they don’t have the necessary focus as yet.
Even though we might think that it is highly unlikely to gain fitness from doing housework, think back to that old movie ‘The Karate Kid.’ Remember that Mr. Miyagi put young Daniel through his paces by making him paint fences and wax cars, for one. And though this sort of activity isn’t really needed, maybe grabbing a 10 gallon wet dry vacuum and focusing on pushing it around can be Zen and fitness at the same time.
It may seem a bit unusual or eccentric at first, but there is a lot of truth to the saying that the body will follow the mind in mutual achievement if it is desired. In other words, the mind can help the body overcome just about everything and this is true in the gym or in the home. So begin practicing calmness in a Zen-like way when doing housework and appreciating it for what it is.
To use an example, go out to the garage and begin cleaning it out, appreciating everything that is occurring right at that moment. Pick up those old garden blowers sitting in the corner of the garage and put one in each hand. Walk outside and begin going up and down the garden holding them out at the site as far as possible. Appreciate the beauty around you. Fitness will soon begin to show up, also.
The point to all of this is to begin to appreciate the fact that a house environment offers a million different ways in which serene calmness can be cultivated like a Zen master, all while doing a bit of useful housework. It is somewhat metaphysical to think of the journey that the body and the mind will take, but focusing on the beauty of the activity really works when it comes to subtly encouraging fitness.
Even a a great-grandmother who is porch-bound can engage in a little Zen fitness building just by focusing on her needlework and appreciating it for its purity and clarity. Such focus helps the body bring forth energies that can invigorate it and keep not only the body but the mind clear and sharp in ways that we may not ever be able to fully understand. Grandma will sure like it, though.
That’s why looking at around-the-house jobs as being Zen-like in their purity can be a very subtle yet effective way to begin gaining a little bit of fitness while not even meaning to do so. Truly, there are plenty of opportunities housework presents for meditation and appreciation. Doing just a little bit can encourage the body to improve its fitness in order to gain even more enjoyment from the act.