Sonya Elliott
Morning hike to Ollalie Lake
My recreational basketball team took the summer off so I’m using it as an opportunity to get in better shape for when we start again in the fall. Over the last couple of years I have lost a lot of strength and flexibility. My wind is still okay, but on the court it’s been tougher to rebound and play defense when I can’t hold my ground like I used to.
But not for much longer. I have been mixing it up with beach volleyball, weights, yoga, hiking and conditioning boot camps every day. And this morning, as my daughter and I hiked down from Ollalie Lake, it was nice to be sore again, not the sore that keeps me from bending down and weeding the yard or taking the plates out of the cupboard, but the good kind of sore that reminds me of how many muscles keep the human body moving and assures me that I’m getting stronger so that when basketball starts again, I will be ready.
My body will be ready and my mind will be ready. I have I been missing basketball, (Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?). So whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned athlete, it doesn’t hurt to mix up a little. Not only is it good for your body but it can be good for your soul.
