Article

A Senior Decides to Try Stealth Stretches …

By Roz Warren Tuesday, July 1, 2014 25 Comments Share This:

You‘ve seen the headlines. “Easy Stretches To Do At Work.” “Copy Machine Calisthenics!” “Ten Stress-defying Exercises You Can Secretly Perform at Your Desk.”

Does anybody actually do these?

Imagine “Mad Men’s” Don Draper telling his creative team, “Just give me a minute to twist myself into a pretzel!” Or “The Good Wife’s” Alicia Florrick demolishing a witness with skillful cross-examination while performing a series of core-strengthening stretches.

I get plenty of exercise at the library where I work— rolling my eyes, shrugging my shoulders and dodging bullshit.

But as my 60th birthday approached, I decided to up my game and experiment with becoming a Workplace Exerciser.

First up? Stealth exercises! The invisible moves that nobody else knows you’re doing. For instance? The Gluteal Squeeze. “Contract your butt muscles. Relax. Contract. Relax.“

I easily got into the habit of clenching my tushie muscles while standing behind the library‘s circulation desk.

Once I’d mastered that? “Go toe to head,” one article suggested, “contracting each and every muscle along the way.“

Finally – something to do when a patron insists on giving me a blow-by-blow account of the plot of “Blossom Street Brides.”

“So Lauren calls off their engagement…. but that turns out to be okay, because then she meets her best friend’s husband’s best friend… and he’s a total hottie! But…“

Once, this would have driven me mad with impatience. Now I just smile and clench.

And unclench. And clench.

I’m not getting bored to tears. I’m getting stronger!

Another terrific stealth exercise? Stand on one leg, then arch and point your other foot. This one is ideal for hearing out a patron’s song-and-dance about why she shouldn’t have to pony up for returning “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” three months late.

As she’s talking, I just channel our Yorkie-poo and perform a head tilt or two. It may look as if I’m listening sympathetically, but I‘m actually just stretching my neck muscles.

Next, the less subtle exercises. Neck rolls! Wrist Stretches! Shoulder Shrugs! Wall squats!

Do our patrons notice me stretching and shrugging behind the circ desk as they browse? Of course! But if they ask, I only have to say two magic words: “Carpel tunnel.”

Because I have a well-earned reputation for being a little quirky, my co-workers take my bending and twisting in stride. One even turns out to be a former Yoga instructor. When I attempted a Wall Squat during a quiet afternoon shift, Eileen proceeded to lead me though a series of more challenging poses and stretches.

How did our patrons respond when they approached the circ desk to find two AARP-aged librarians balanced like cranes on one leg, arms outstretched?

They loved it.

Some of the recommended exercises I read about seem a bit over the top, even for me.

Shadow boxing. “Plant your feet shoulder-width apart and start aggressively punching the air.“ Really? Not this librarian. Although it might be an interesting move to try the next time I tell someone their card has expired and they go ballistic.

“Replace your office chair with an exercise ball.”

Not going to happen.

But using my water bottle as a hand weight and doing a few curls before taking my first sip? Why not?

After a few weeks, I’d settled into an at-work exercise routine that ranged from the invisible to the pleasantly ridiculous.

And after a month? I do feel more relaxed. And I’m carrying less tension in my body. Better yet, I’ve added to the arsenal of things I can do to amuse myself when life gets dull.

And God knows I’ve amused the people around me.

You might feel that this behavior is beneath my dignity as a librarian and as a senior, but at my age I choose to do what works for me. And if that means performing shoulder rolls as I check your books out or doing back flips while emptying the book drop, you’ll just have to go with it.

When my next birthday arrives, I’ll be that much more relaxed and fit.

And by the time I’m old enough to retire from library work? I‘ll be ready to run off and join the circus.

Roz Warren writes for the New York Times, the Huffington Post and many other publications. She recently appeared on the “Today Show.” You can read more of her work at www.rosalindwarren.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter @WriterRozWarren.

Also read Roz’s “I’m in Love With Mr. Yippee on Senior Planet

COMMENTS

25 responses to “A Senior Decides to Try Stealth Stretches …”

Kate:

Monday, July 14, 2014 at 8:50am

So inspiring! Does “lowering myself into the comfy chair” count? What about “double leg raise on to the couch”?

Reply to Kate
1. Roz Warren:
  
  Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 12:45pm
  
  Both sound like terrific moves!
  
  Reply to Roz Warren
Becky Blades:

Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 12:32pm

Hilarious. I so believe in stretching that I try to secretly contort all day long, and my kids will hardly be seen in public with me.

Reply to Becky Blades
Melissa Senecal:

Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 3:05pm

Just like when i learned kegals when I was pregnant. Till pre-menopause hit and it doesn’t matter how many squeezes you do!!! Oops don’t make me laugh! ;-)

Reply to Melissa Senecal
Kelly:

Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 12:30pm

Love this! I always decide that I’m going to do stuff like this to get more exercise and then somehow it never happens.

Reply to Kelly
Sheryl:

Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 8:24am

Like you said…whatever works (and WHEREever it works!)

Reply to Sheryl
Tammy:

Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 1:19am

LOVE the eye rolling and teeth clenching exercise! I do that one pretty regularly. I think it’s fabulous to do what you need to do at your work station. Inspiring!

Reply to Tammy
Susan - ofeverymoment:

Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 12:47am

You just reminded me to get up and move around a bit! WIth my luck, if I used a water bottle as a hand weight I would forget to close it – and get a shower!

Reply to Susan - ofeverymoment
Lisa Froman:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 9:37pm

I try to do little mini-meditations in my cubicle ….to exercise my mind. Luckily, the company I work for has a gym downstairs so it’s easy to run down at lunch a few times a week.

Reply to Lisa Froman
Helene Cohen Bludman:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 3:02pm

I think I’ve perfected the “rolling the eyes” exercise, so I’m ready to move on to “teeth clenching.”

Reply to Helene Cohen Bludman
1. Roz Warren:
  
  Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 10:27am
  
  Teeth clenching! Yes! How did I manage to leave that one out?
  
  Reply to Roz Warren
Ellen Dolgen:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11:34am

Hilarious…. I am now exercising as I type!

Reply to Ellen Dolgen
Lana:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11:34am

I want to come to your library and see you do a back flip :) Funny stuff!

Reply to Lana
Pam@over50feeling40:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11:28am

I need to come up with a plan when I return to teaching in a month. My high school kids would love to see me doing a wall squat!! I just started doing these low squats with a wall ball throw as part of my workout! It’s a killer right now. I just started using a trainer a year ago and each time with him is an adventure. Thanks for the motivation to get a plan developed for work!

Reply to Pam@over50feeling40
1. Roz Warren:
  
  Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 1:54pm
  
  “Each time with him is an adventure” sounds terrific. Maybe I too need a personal trainer?
  
  Reply to Roz Warren
Cathy Chester:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11:17am

I just saw a documentary on Elaine Stritch who, at 87+, could care less (has she ever?) what anyone says about her. I imagine that you may feel similar feelings, Roz. But you will have the last laugh because you’ll be stretched and toned!

Reply to Cathy Chester
1. Roz Warren:
  
  Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 1:51pm
  
  That documentary is on my To Watch List. I LOVE Elaine Stritch!
  
  Reply to Roz Warren
Lois Alter Mark:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 10:32am

Hilarious! I think dodging bullshit could keep all of us busy and strong all day!

Reply to Lois Alter Mark
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 10:10am

PERFECT! Thanks for the great reminder that we can stretch and exercise no matter what or where. And most people either don’t see us or are so wrapped up in themselves that it really doesn’t matter what we do! Thanks for the idea AND the laugh. ~Kathy

Reply to Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com
Carol Cassara:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 10:00am

I love these–my father used to do these without stealth any time, anywhere, go figure.
Carol
carolcassara.com/nothing-sure-everything-possible

Reply to Carol Cassara
Jackie:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 9:54am

OMG, I literally laughed out loud picturing you doing these things — love the “dodging bullshit” line, by the way!

Reply to Jackie
Stephen:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 8:20am

I try and do the same thing – getting up with a headset to take phone calls and walking around a bit is great to get one out of a chair too.

Reply to Stephen
Rie:

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 8:06pm

So funny. I just laughed and laughed. I work out; I’m almost 70; but these little tricks, well wait until my husband comes home for dinner.

Reply to Rie
Caryn/The Mid Life Guru:

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 7:59pm

I loved your take on this!! I will admit that I’ve been known to do a few butt squeezes during terribly long meetings as well as leg lifts under the table. Keeps me sane!!! Thanks for the smile today.

Reply to Caryn/The Mid Life Guru
Mark Lowe:

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 6:40pm

Wonderful!

Reply to Mark Lowe