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Zen And Housework: What’s Not To Like?

There is a way to increase muscle size — known as ‘bodybuilding’ to the uninitiated — by carrying out normal activities around the house, though many people might not believe it possible. That’s because they lack focus, which is why the Zen of bodybuilding through simple house jobs is so underappreciated. Thinking about making bigger muscles while sweeping, for instance, could actually work.

That’s because the old Karate Kid method of waxing on and waxing off, for example, actually does have a bit of merit when it comes to gaining a bit more fitness while looking good doing it. Imagine grabbing the old 5 gallon wet dry vacuum and pushing it around with one arm or just a leg and thinking about the muscle that is being used all while maintaining serene calm the ‘Zen Way.’

Sure, some of this sounds a little spacey or ‘out there, ‘ but the truth of the matter is that the mind can accommodate to any circumstance and the body will follow right along when the mind commands it. This is true in gyms and it is true at home, so it really doesn’t matter where meditating and practicing serene calmness (as Zen masters might say) is done and at what times.

For example, maybe one has cleaned out the garage and pulled out one or two of the garden blowers that had been gathering dust over on some shelf. Taking one in each hand and then extending the arms outward or all the way forward and holding the blowers out there while walking slowly through the garden and meditating on all the natural beauty around can be an excellent fitness activity.

The point in all of this is to illustrate that there are so many ways that a person can work on fitness without actually working on fitness that is amazing in a kind of metaphysical way. Whether it has to do with bodybuilding or becoming a perfect tai chi Zen enthusiast, there are a myriad of activities in and around the house that can offer medication and fitness training all at once.

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.

So, the next time somebody mentions Zen it’s now possible to understand how it can be applied in many different ways to get through the day doing housework or odd jobs around the house while also asking the body to pitch in and help out, sometimes to the point where actual and definable fitness can result. In the end, what’s not to like about such an activity?

Ocean Grove – “Our House” Live from the porch

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