I have a confession. When I lived in New York City, I was a gym-a-holic. This is a more serious distinction than being a gym rat. A gym-a-holic spends most of her time working out at an indoor fitness center. Ask her to go away for a hiking weekend, and she will worry about missing her Saturday 8AM aerobic class.

I was cured of this affliction when I was introduced to the great outdoors. Much to my dismay, I discovered that while I might look good in ski clothes, hiking shorts or rafting gear, my indoor fitness routine did little to enhance my outdoor skills.

So what was lacking? Spontaneity! How do you react to a sudden change in terrain on a hiking trail or a ski slope? What do you do when you encounter unexpected rapids on a white water trip? Do you have the spontaneity, or as we fitness experts call it, agility to respond appropriately? The elliptical machine, as well as the leg extension machine and other traditional forms of exercise equipment are predictable in their movements. However Mother Nature is fond of surprising her daughters. She builds their character by presenting them with changes.

Balance challenges are another form of these changes. Suppose that you are hiking along a trail, and you suddenly come across a stream. The only way to cross this stream is by stepping over a series of rocks. “No problem!” you say. “I’ve been practicing the Yoga Tree Pose for years. Uh oh! We have a problem! The tree pose is a static exercise. Crossing a stream involves dynamic balance, or balance in motion.

Does this mean that you need to give up your gym workouts? No way! However, there are ways to make your workout “outdoor friendly.” Here are just a few:

• Use Balance Training Equipment: Many weight-training exercises can be performed on the ball, bosu or balance board.
• Go to the Playground: Hopscotch and other park games can enhance balance and agility.
• Play with a Kid or a Puppy: If you don’t have either of these, borrow from a friend. Nothing is more effective in increasing speed in reaction time!

A gym-a-holic trains her muscles to look good while lying on the beach. An adventurous wench trains her muscles for action, and ends up looking pretty darn good in the process. Which are you?

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This is a first post from a new guest blogger, Lisa Mercer. Lisa is a fitness expert who lives in Colorado, and she’ll be contributing articles and and then. If you’re thinking of a women’s adventure trip, check out her tips!

Monday inspiration:

All good fortune is a gift of the gods, and you don’t win the favor of the ancient gods by being good, but by being bold.”
~ Anita Brookner

Here in the land of ancient gods, this quote rings true! I’m in Rome now, and one thing is certain — those Roman emperors who ruled the ancient world were bold, and accomplished many things. Were they good guys? Not most of them. Bold? Definitely!

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I’m in Italy now, scoping out a new Italy trip for women for 2009. I’ve always been fascinated with Rome, and the amazing history here. And Pompeii (the lost city, buried by a volcano) is another all-time favorite. I’ll keep you posted on what I come up with!

Monday inspiration:

I never intended to become a run-of-the-mill person.”
~ Barbara Jordan

How true! In spite of the pressures we all feel to conform and fit in, when you put it like that, who wouldn’t agree? There’s no WAY I want to be a run-of-the-mill person!

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I’m in Greece right now, checking out some things for next year’s Greek Islands tour for women. Due to the extreme rise in the Euro compared to the US Dollar, I’m looking for more economical ways we can visit these fascinating islands. I’ll keep you posted!

Monday quote:

Self-pity gets you nowhere. One must have the adventurous daring to accept oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting game in the world — making the most of one’s best.”
~ Harry Emerson Fosdick

What a cool way to look at life!

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I’m in Ireland now, at the lovely Carrig Country House. — part of our Ireland tour for women. Definitely playing that most interesting game in the world - I love it!

I was listening to an episode of RadioLab about Laughter recently. As usual, they did a fascinating job of covering the topic from multiple angles. One item stood out for me, though.

They said laughter is a social thing, and that people don’t laugh alone. They don’t mean when you’re home alone watching Letterman, or goofy YouTube videos. In those cases, there’s still an external source involved. Their point was that without that, people don’t laugh alone — it’s a social thing, and we laugh in the company of others.

But that’s where they’re wrong. Or maybe I’m weird. Because I DO laugh alone. Do you?

Here’s a good example: The other day, it was a beautiful morning outside, and I was driving through the desert. I had the roof down, tunes on, sun was shining, weather was perfect, and I had the winding back road to myself. It was so gorgeous, and so free, that a wave of incredible happiness came over me, and I had to laugh out loud. It wasn’t social (I didn’t bring imaginary friends that morning). It wasn’t something on the radio. It was internal — joy at a beautiful day that came bubbling to the surface as a laugh.

So that’s my question, and it seems important — do you laugh alone?

I’d hate to think there’s a segment of people who don’t get this same bubbling happiness, because surely everyone deserves to feel that wonderful sometimes — so happy you just have to burst out laughing, even if you’re alone!

I’d love to hear from anybody out there, so feel free to comment. Please, say you do too, say it’s not true…

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Surely it’s not just me, right? Or is it one of those things that happens but you’re not supposed to admit it, like drinking alone? Maybe I’ll go have a glass of wine, too.

Monday quote:

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.
I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

A man after my own heart!

Monday quote:

Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a different way to stand.”
~ Oprah Winfrey

This one reminds me of sailing. If you’ve ever walked around on a sailboat, heeled over to one side, and moving over the waves, you’ll know just what I mean! No point in fighting it — just find a different way to stand.

Monday quote:

Your world is as big as you make it
I know, for I used to abide
In the narrowest nest in a corner
My wings pressing close to my side

But I sighted the distant horizon
Where the sky-line encircled the sea
And I throbbed with a burning desire
To travel this immensity

I battered the cordons around me
And cradled my wings on the breeze
Then soared to the uttermost reaches
With rapture, with power, with ease!”

~ Georgia Douglas Johnson, Harlem Renaissance poet
from Share My World

Wow! Is that great, or what?

I’m still working on the rapture, power, and ease part. Perhaps the secret lies in battering the cordons?