This morning I went to the gym. Not entirely unusual as I’m making it a habit to do so. Even though I despise gyms! Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration. I can think of worse places to spend my time. Jail. Nuclear reactors. Office meetings. But since I don’t own a bunch of weight equipment and I’ve realized the importance of body building (Or simply to build stronger muscles to avoid injury from other more fun physical activities.), I got a gym membership.

*Surfing in the ocean is more my style of gym.*

When I exercise in other places, I find being mindfully engaged with the physical movement and location is more natural. For example, while surfing it’s so easy for me to get lost in the moment. I watch the waves build, my pet dolphins that come to visit, and my proximity to the shore and other surfers. I notice my breath. I listen to the sounds of birds, children yelling, or a less than zen surfer having a little temper tantrum. I smell the salt water and fresh air. I taste the salt water. I notice how it feels to sit on my board with my legs dangling in the cold water, how my arms feel paddling, and especially the sensation of standing up while a wave propels me forward. I also notice how it feels when I get pummeled by a wave and am stuck underwater for longer than seems safe.

Not so much at the gym.

At the gym, I find myself mostly stuck in my head, counting reps, while simultaneously thinking, “Ugh, this is my least favorite exercise...That’s why you do it first... Okay, only 5 more... Try not to think about it...That person looks like they’re going to hurt themselves… Look at that guy’s arms... If you were better you’d do 10 more... But I can’t overdue it or I might get hurt… Is that just an excuse?” And on and on and on. I look for a TV to further distract myself, but unfortunately the gym I usually go to doesn’t have TVs near the weights. Occasionally I catch myself and think I should be mindful, but then I become willful and decide, “Nope, don’t wanna!”

Today, for some reason, something shifted.

*This is the dude! Killing it on the exercise bike.*

I found myself making up stories about some dude with a notepad because I was annoyed that he was documenting his workout while sitting on the last machine I needed to use to finish my torture for the day. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what he had to write about for what seemed to be as long as he had used the machine itself.

Then, I had the thought, “Maybe he’s being more mindful than me. And documenting it. Maybe I can just chill out and be in this moment, accepting it for what it is.”

So I watched the dude write. Not for too long since I didn’t want to seem like a total creeper. So then I watched others get their exercise on. Without any judgmental commentary. I did an extra set. Cause why not. And I had to practice mindfully squatting.

I felt my muscles burn. Then the burn gave way to simply noticing the sensations of movement. I listened to the soft buzz of conversation and machines making machine sounds. I didn’t smell or taste much, which is probably a blessing given where I was.

As soon as I was present, the dude picked up his stuff and moved on. Yes! Now that is why we practice mindfulness. To get what we want!

Kidding.

Kind of.

*Maybe I could get down with an outdoor gym.*

It is ironic that as soon as we’re fully present and let go of wanting something to be different, that is when we get what we wanted to begin with. I did still dash over to the machine because if another person had hopped onto it, I don’t know if my mindfulness would have withstood the test. Still I was able to be fully present for each rep.

And now I’m so into the gym. Not. But I hope I’ll at least enter those doors with a different attitude and commitment to remain present next time. And that my friends, is what mindfulness is. Practicing presence over and over again. It’s exercise. For the mind.