Everyday Systems

I found myself looking for a little more variety in this morning's shovelgloving. Usually after my 14 minutes, I pick up various juggling props for a little bit more of a workout. Sometimes its heavy balls (heavy relative to juggling that is, 2 lbs.). Sometimes its pins, and I try to sustain some one-legged juggling with a few small squats and some under the leg juggling. I find that the balance work builds my core and also stabilizer muscles in my legs. The one legged "squats" build my calves and thighs. I say "squats" because they never go terribly deep, just enough to put my knees over my toes while standing on one leg. Try it, you'll see what I mean.

Today's inspiration, however, was to try some shovelgloving on one leg. The range of motion tends not to be the same, and the muscles worked out are a little different, but the attempt offered a promising measure of additional variety. So far, shoveling, chopping wood, and churning butter have worked best in one-footed versions. With churning butter, you can add the small squats and get a reasonably good workout for your calves and thighs. It also tends to work the stabilizer muscles of your knees, which I suspect will have some benefit in preventing injuries. (Provided you avoid falling over while shovelgloving on one foot. ).

Anybody else tried this?

I haven't tried it, but I will!

Thanks for the idea.

--david

Day 2. So, I think the one-footed versions of chop wood and shoveling are no real substitute for the regular variety, but still a good add-on if I've run out of ideas at the end. Churning butter still works well.

Since one of the strengths of shovelglove is to involve a variety of motions that work out several parts of the body simultaneously, I think there is some value added when doing some of the movements that don't do this as much. That is, the movements that isolate muscles more. Prime example, the no-name movement. One foot gives the rest of your body a little more to do.

Also, the room where I shovelglove tends to be a little chilly in the morning--particularly when it's in the single digits (F, sometimes negative single digits) outside. I'd shovel in socks, but it gets a little risky with some of the moves (e.g. lunges) on a smooth floor. So I tend to put on shoes for that portion. But when it comes to adding the balancing act, barefoot or sockfoot tends to work much better.