Episode 86: Exercise

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Ian: Hey everyone, you are listening to “Coffee with Gringos.” I'm Ian Kennedy.

Paige: And I'm Paige Sutherland.

Ian: Today we're going to talk about being physical—moving, exercising, doing things outside, taking care of our bodies and our mind. So, one of the most important things we can do for mental and physical and emotional health is exercise. It's a really important part of life. So, we're gonna talk about what we like to do, what people like to do and ways we can keep ourselves healthy, especially during this time. So, remember, if you get lost, go online and check out that audio guide and transcript. So, Paige—exercise. We're all about it, right? So, what are your favorite kinds of exercises or what do you do to keep yourself healthy?

Paige: Yeah, good question. I mean, for me, exercising is an essential part of my life. As you said, it's cheaper than therapy, it helps me mentally. I feel like if I don't exercise for a few days I get anxious. Like, it's like I have all this built up energy that I need to release. For me, I would say, running. You can do running whenever you want, wherever you want. All you need is a pair of shoes and you're good to go. And it's free. So, I love that.

Ian: Yeah, totally. It's good you mentioned running, because you can do it anywhere. You just need shoes, need some shorts—that's it. It’s not like you need a lot of equipment to do that. And yeah, it's just a great way to blow off steam, get rid of stress. In recent years, I've been trying to pick up running. Like, when I used to play soccer, we used to think, you know, running was like a punishment. So, for the longest time I did not enjoy it at all. But now that I've gotten older, it's yeah, it's kind of more like a release, you know.  When I have all this energy or stress I can just go run and get that all out and feel way better afterwards.

Paige: It's a “love-hate.” I mean, I don't think any runner, like, loves running when you're doing it. It's more like you get so addicted to that after. And the more you do it, it's not as hard, so it is more enjoyable. It's like the beginning of getting fit for running, that sucks.

Ian: Right, exactly. And I have to ask, so we're both runners but I'm pretty new to it. My distances aren’t very long. You are a seasoned veteran, so…do you get a runner's high?

Paige: Mhm.

Ian: How about you explain that to our audience—what's a runner's high?

Paige: It's, basically, when it becomes so effortlessly that, like, you're running at, like, a good pace, and you could just not stop. Endorphins are kicking in. You're just machine, basically. It's a really nice feeling. I mean, you don't get it all the time, obviously. You have days but when you do, you just are like, “I'm in good shape.” Yeah, and it feels it feels real nice. I mean, I think runner's high is something you can feel in any sport, right? It's just when you're in your groove, right, when you're just, like, feeling really good, and your body is just, like, at its peak. I feel like that's the runner's high. But I think, like, for me, like I said, running is definitely my number one but, like, as I've gotten older, exercising for me has become something I like to vary. So, I like running, but I also like to, like, to go hiking, go swimming, go biking—you know, play padel or tennis. Like, I need to change it because exercise is so part of my life, I don't want to do the same thing every day.

Ian: Right. You don't want it to get stale.

Paige: Exactly. What about you, do you like to mix it up when you exercise?

Ian: Yeah, definitely. I like to mix things up and as I've gotten older, yeah, try to mix things up more, try new things. So besides just running, which I hated before. Yeah, I've picked up, like, well I ride my bike a lot here. So, in the States I used to mountain bike quite a bit. Here I don't have a per se, like a “mountain bike” mountain bike, but I bike to all of my classes, I try to bike all over the city. So that's a really nice way to get exercise. During the day, I'll go to Cerro San Cristobal a lot on the bike. This is really good way to get around. Besides that, I've been getting into yoga more last few years. So, like, when I lived in the States I used to go maybe, like, once or twice a week sometimes. I haven't done as much now but maybe in my apartment I have my yoga mat and I'll do yoga in my room or I'll get good stretches because, as we're getting older, the machines, our bodies, aren't running as well so you have to maintain them. So, for me, that's a lot of stretching, keeping flexible, taking care of myself in the short term and then hopefully that turns into taking care of myself long term. I'd like to get more into padel, or pickleball, (which) is a popular sport. It's becoming more popular in the US. Things that are considered maybe more fun, or, like, recreationally fun than just the quote-unquote exercise type sports.  But (I’m) really open to anything. Yeah, we'll see what else I get into.

Paige: And quick reminder, don't forget if you want to advance your English more, learn more, go online to dynamicenglish.cl where you can take private classes, you can take group classes, you can even now take classes online. What is your opinion on the gym? I feel like the gym is, like, a “love-hate” for people.

Ian: So, the gym, I think the gym can be great if you do it the right way. What I think happens a lot is it turns into, especially nowadays, it turns into, like, I don't want to say a popularity contest, but a lot of times it's like, people want to show off their muscles or, you know, I hate to say it, but a lot of people, like, they're just taking pictures for Instagram and their workout outfits. It's more of, like, a vanity thing than it is like taking care of yourself kind of thing. Again, yeah, the gym can be good. I'm pretty tight with my money when it comes to, like, gyms so I prefer usually just to, like, do my own thing at my house—do bodyweight stuff, do yoga, go to the park, use exercise machines. But I have a lot of friends who, yeah, they spend a lot of time in the gym and it can be a great outlet, but also there's people in the gym who play their music loud, they're dirty. You know, the machines really do get pretty dirty, especially now that we're all very germ-conscious right now with everything going on.

Paige: I think the gyms are closed, yeah.

Ian: Yeah, most gyms are closed now because they're kind of a breeding ground for bacteria, for viruses, so I think people are, you know, not going to be going to the gym as much now either. So, start utilizing the home gym, that's what's gonna happen. So that or, you know, just getting outside and taking advantage of what's out there.

Paige: I agree with what you said with the gym being, like, more of a vanity. There’s actually a gym, I don't know if it's reached Missouri but, it’s Planet Fitness?

Ian: Oh yeah.

Paige: Yeah, and their, like, motto is basically, like, “A gym that accepts all people.” That you, like, get yelled at if you run or, like, flex your muscles or drop your weights like the big, hulky guy. I mean it is, I do kind of like that. I mean, it's a little cheesy of a philosophy but, like, it's true, like, we're just going to work out. I don't want you to show off or, like, you know, be, like, “macho man.” Just, like, everyone do your own thing, that kind of thing. Since I grew up and spent most of my life in Boston, the winters are pretty terrible. So, when I was running in college, obviously, running outside in the winter was just part of my routine. But as I got older and I wasn't part of a team, I was like, “I don't have to run outside more…” So, I used to, I would go to the gym more in the winter when it was brutally cold, but running on the treadmill just sucks. Like, it's super boring, it's not the same, like, muscles. It's actually like I always feel, like, I get injured when I run on the treadmill because it's really flat. So, I like the gym for, like, doing weights and like, stuff like that. I really like the classes. Like, I like spin classes, like a kickboxing class but using the machines just get pretty old for me. I don't know about you.

Ian: Yeah, same for me. I mean, like, when I was living in the States, when I was back in my last job, we had free gym membership on campus so I would go, maybe every day, every other day. I know what you mean by the treadmill. It's, like, I was running on the treadmill and it's too, like there's, like, a TV in front of you and it just seems like, you know, running for me is something like, I want to get outside and hear things, see things. And so, like, the treadmill got really old fast, and then, yeah, like, I found myself getting stuck in the same kind of routine of things. And so, while it can be good, you really have to make sure you switch things up and you don't get bored because, after a while, I was kind of getting bored. But one thing that was nice about the gym was after the workout, I could use the steam room and the sauna, which is nice. I haven't used one of those in years. But that was a great perk, so afterwards I'd always hit either the sauna or the steam room, get a cold shower and, man, I felt so good. It was the best.

Paige: I feel like as I've gotten older, to that, you work a lot more, you have more responsibility, so, like, working out isn't as a priority as much. When you're younger in college, you have more free time. So, like, you really need to be more motivated, I feel like, to work out every day or very consistently. So, like for me, it's helped as I got older to try to do more group exercise, because if you say, “Hey, I'm going to run in the morning at seven before work,” you set an alarm, seven comes and you're like, “Ehh, bed’s really warm. I don't have to run, no one's counting on me to run.” Like, you know, there's no need. It's just a want, so I was like, “yeah I'll snooze.” But, like, if you have a class or if you pay for it or someone's waiting outside your door, waiting for you to run, then you get up and you do it. Yeah, so I feel like, unfortunately, when you get older you kind of need those, like, social motivators. I don't know if you feel that too.

Ian: Yeah, I mean it's a lot easier to go and do something if someone's counting on you to join them for a workout. Or, like, you know, a lot of people go the route of getting a personal trainer which…

Paige: Not on a Dynamic (English) budget!

Ian: Yeah, no. Not on a freelance English teacher budget, but if you have the means for it, it's a good way to motivate yourself. Because, yeah, like you said, sometimes I'll have the idea, like, “Okay, tomorrow morning I'm gonna get up, I'm gonna go for a run before the day gets started.” And then when the alarm clock goes off, I'm like, “No, I'm not doing that today.” Yeah, and so it's hard to motivate yourself sometimes so. Well, it's good that you don't have, like, that pressure maybe that you had as a kid when you were on a team and you had to pull your weight you had others counting on you. Sometimes that can be a good thing. In adulthood, it's a lot easier to just drink a few beers instead of go for a run at the end of the day, but that catches up to you in the long run, so.

Paige: Exactly, especially now with these crazy times, try to go for a run go outside, take a bike ride. Trust me, it will help.

Ian: In these times when we're stuck inside, it's easy to neglect things and not take care of our bodies but do what you can. Do push-ups in your living room, do yoga in your house in your apartment, get outside and go for a walk. Do whatever you can, just make sure you take care of yourself. Thanks for listening.

Paige: We'll talk to you next time.

Paige: “Coffee with Gringos” was brought to you by Dynamic English, where you can learn English simply by using it. If you’re interested in taking classes or just want to learn more, go to our website at dynamicenglish.cl. Thanks for listening.

Key Vocabulary, Phrases and Slang:

 1.     to blow off steam (idiom): to get rid of stress, strong emotions or negative feelings.

a.     I like to go for a run when I need to blow off steam.  

2.     love-hate (adjective): to feel both love and hate for something.

a.     I’ve always had a “love-hate” relationship with running.  

3.     seasoned veteran (noun): someone with a lot of experience in something.

a.     My uncle is a seasoned veteran of tennis. He’s played for more than thirty years.

4.     runner’s high (noun): feeling of happiness or euphoria from running for a long-distance or time which causes a release of endorphins in the body.

a.     Runners often experience runner’s high when they run for long distances.

5.     mhm (slang, sound): verbal sound used to say “yes” and/or give approval.

a.     Person 1: “Would you like to go to the cinema today?”

b.     Person 2: “Mhm, that sounds like fun!”

6.     effortlessly (adverb): easily, without difficulty.

a.     She effortlessly hit the tennis ball with power.

7.     endorphins (noun): hormones in the body that cause happiness or euphoria.

a.     Releasing endorphins during exercise is very good for the body and mind.

8.     to kick in (phrasal verb): to begin, to take effect.

a.     I can feel the endorphins kick in about a half-hour into working out.

9.     peak (noun): point of highest activity, quality or performance.

a.     Professional athletes represent the peak of athletic performance.

10.  to vary (verb): to change, to be different.

a.     I like to vary my workouts so I don’t get bored.

11.  stale (adjective): boring, old.

a.     It’s important to vary exercises so they don’t get stale.

12.  per se (adverb): exactly, by or in itself.

a.     Having a knife in his possession was not per se against the law.

13.  Cerro San Cristobal (noun): a famous and popular landmark in Santiago, Chile that consists of an elevated hill above the city.

a.     I love to ride my bike to the top of Cerro San Cristobal once a week.

14.  padel (noun): popular sport consisting of hitting a ball with paddles across a net, similar to tennis.

a.     My friends like to play padel during the week when they can.

15.  pickleball (noun): paddle sport similar to padel and tennis with a lighter ball and smaller net.

a.     Pickleball is becoming more popular in many countries, including the US.

16.  vanity (noun): excessive pride or admiration of one’s own appearance or achievements.

a.     Many people go to the gym to satisfy their own vanity.

17.  tight (adjective): cheap, frugal, thrifty, conservative with spending money.

a.     My friend is so tight. He doesn’t like to pay for anything!

18.  outlet (noun): a way or means to do something or express oneself.

a.     The gym can be a great outlet for people to blow off steam and to get stronger.

19.  germ-conscious (adjective): aware or concerned with germs and cleanliness.

a.     It’s important to be germ-conscious at the gym since they are usually dirty.  

20.  breeding ground (noun): a place that causes the growth, spread and development of something.

a.     Chile is a breeding ground for outdoor activity lovers.

21.  motto (noun): short phrase representing the beliefs or ideas of a person or an organization.

a.     Nike’s motto is “Just do it.”

22.  to flex (verb): to show one’s muscles by moving them.

a.     Many people go to the gym just to flex their muscles and to look at themselves.

23.  hulky (adjective): big and muscular

a.     Most weightlifters are hulky due to spending so much time in the gym.

24.  cheesy (adjective): unoriginal, inauthentic.

a.     My coach is always telling me cheesy quotes to try to motivate me.  

25.  treadmill (noun): exercise machine used to practice running.

a.     I prefer to run outside to running on a treadmill.

26.  to suck (verb): to be very bad, negative or unappealing

a.     Going to the gym sucks when there are lots of people who are loud and dirty.

27.  perk (noun): benefit.

a.     Having a free gym membership is a great company perk.

28.  to snooze (verb): to turn off an alarm clock and continue to sleep.

a.     It’s easy to snooze instead of exercising early in the morning.

29.  to count on (phrasal verb): to rely on something or someone.

a.     My friends count on their personal trainers to make sure they do their exercises.

30.  means (noun): money.

a.     Most people don’t have the means to hire a personal trainer.

31.  to pull one’s weight (phrasal verb): to do what one is responsible for as part of a group working together.

a.     It’s important to pull your own weight when doing team sports so that the responsibilities are equal.

32.  to catch up (phrasal verb): to accumulate something after a period of time, usually negative.

a.     Bad diet habits can catch up to you when you get older.

33.  to neglect (verb): to ignore, not give something enough attention.

a.     It’s important to not neglect physical health.