Juggling for fitness (video post).

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Subtitle: As I mentioned to these guys Ive recommitted to learning to juggle. By the time I turn 41 I shall be amazing! mediocre.


I’d love to say this topic choice stemmed wholly from a quirky desire to seek alternative fitness— but that would be a lie.

Inspiration came from a much more mundane place.

As I lamented to these women my inability to juggle work-commitments/MizFit/mamahood at all with ease a topic was born.

Perhaps, I mused, if I literally juggled I might conquer my figurative ball tossage as well.

I was uncertain if juggling fell under the umbrella of exercise but confident, given my below average coordination, there’d be calorie burning laughs regardless.

And sometimes the mere promise of LAUGHTER is enough to get me to try anything. ONCE.

Juggling has been around far longer than the Ringling Brothers clowns we now associate it with. It was practiced in ancient Egypt and Rome and popular in Europe throughout the Middle Ages.

Yes it’s mildly interesting juggling provided entertainment for ancient kings, but even with the economy in the crapper freelance opportunities drying up I was confident I’d never be employed as a court jester.

I wanted to know what physiological benefits I might expect if I succeeded in teaching my clumsy self to juggle.

As it turned out jesters were on to something and juggling for sport had much to offer.

(**cue relief as I had zero other post ideas languishing in my head**)

Juggling increases coordination, balance and reflexes. According to skilled jugglers, prop tossing will improve my hand eye coordination and I shouldn’t shy away because I’m aware of my deficiency. Better balance and quickening of reflexes are also by products of mastering basic jugging stances and skills.

(Yeah, I noticed the word MASTERING in there as well.)

Juggling increases range of motion in arms and shoulders. In order to keep props in the air jugglers need to employ muscles and body mechanics rarely engaged in normal activities. As a result, one must contort in order to juggle smoothly. When one is able to master this contortionary tactic the arms and shoulder joints are in constant use, remain lubricated, and show less age-related creakiness.

Juggling is a workout for all ages and body types.

Juggling for fitness is ideal because it’s a no-impact workout. Tossing objects in the air burns up to two hundred and eighty calories per hour, same as walking, yet can be done seated. This makes juggling a fit for seniors, people with physical limitations & those who are returning to exercise after a hiatus.

Juggling is an excellent stress reliever. This six word sentence was the proverbial music to my frazzled ears. Jugglers must be fully present and focused solely on the activity at hand. No matter if it’s a two minute work break or an extended routine one returns to other tasks with renewed mental clarity and calm.

Juggling makes the brain bigger. A study published in Nature magazine showed learning to juggle triggers growth in the brain’s visual and motor activity sectors. Juggling may also prevent the onset of Alzheimers. Its forced use of problem solving skills (you can’t just toss the balls and hope you catch them. take my word for it.) is thought to stimulate oft neglected parts of the aging brain.

Juggling is portable, free, fun & terrific Tornado entertainment. This final piece sold me on juggling. I loved the idea of always having my workout with me and growing my gray matter /destressing at a moment’s notice! The mere thought of a balance-improving, ball tossing session in the restroom before doing a presentation for work was *already* enough to make me laugh.

Armed with my new found knowledge of juggling’s benefits I was ready to get tossing.

I grabbed a tennis ball, deemed it my prop, and threw it from hand to hand.

Clarification: nowhere in my reading did an expert juggler suggest starting with one prop. All beginner tips led off with two props in hand. I, however, knew I needed to begin with the very basics and urge you to do so, too.

If you’re not me it shall serve as a self- esteem boost and, if you’re my brother or sister in lack of coordination, it’s crucial to perfect the basic toss before adding props.

This basic toss is as uncomplicated as lofting the ball from left to right. I quickly discovered, however, it’s not easy to ensure the ball lands in the same place each time. It took me lots of practicing (and chasing) to get even this ‘simple’ part to become second nature.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh89ZfqL82E

Once I mastered that skill I was ready to add in an additional prop and truly commence juggling.

I swapped my tennis ball for rolled up socks (being determined to learn to juggle with as little domicile destruction as possible), the Tornado shouted GO!! & off I went.

Juggling two props was simple. If by simple you mean easy to explain and quite a challenge to learn which I do.

All that was required was I toss prop two up as the first prop starts to reach its peak (the highest point before descending) and repeat. and REPEAT.

Easy, right?

Yeah, I didnt think so either.

The biggest shock in adding prop number two wasn’t so much the challenge—–it was the fact I didn’t grow frustrated.

As a woman who’s come thisclose to snapping a golf club in half, I’d assumed I’d find juggling exasperating as well. I didn’t.

The few times I kept my props aloft the feeling of accomplishment was beyond compare.

In addition, the zen-like focus required to get to that place rivaled my brief foray into meditation. My juggling was awkward and stilted at best, yet I laughed and viewed each dropped prop as a chance to burn calories as I chased an errant sock.

The answer to the question I know is coming? No.

I haven’t, at this time, graduated to juggling three props (or am anywhere near needing these) and plan to stick with my new avocation until I do.

With regards to three props, word on the juggling street is the more height a toss is given the more time there is to determine where it’ll land and catch it.

I’ll let you know if it really is as simple (please see definition above) as all that.

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Comments

  1. How hilarious are you, Miz?

    I loved the video and was just whining to a coworker how stressed out I am.

    I may try this with two STRESS BALLS I have at work.

  3. Ball tossage? Good thing I’m one of those people who reads the entire thing…in context.

    But I may need to NOT try and juggle. If it will cause my brain to get bigger, no doubt I’d have to file more stuff inside. But that whistling background sound effect you did. That is talent.

  4. I can actually do this “workout” even at my current weight.

    I had no idea I could call this my exercise 🙂

    Is wearing just a sports bra mandatory?
    I can’t find one to fit.

  5. I had some friends when I was in high school who were semi-professional (and later full-fledged professional) jugglers. I used to sit and watch them for hours! I was never good at it then and still can’t do it!!! Before I was just horribly uncoordinated and now pair that with little-to-no depth perception and, well, I’ll just keep watching others in awe 🙂

  8. Reading this made me wonder if I could try juggling as a stepping stone to meditation?

    I am far too hyper to meditate but your reference to “zen like focus” is intriguing.

    As always you rock the vid.

  10. You said Ball Tossage. And I shall think on that and laugh all day.

    You GO! Creative. Refreshing. Entertaining to the masses. And . . . you can earn a little extra cheese by doing it at children’s birthday parties. I’d say you’re on to something.

  11. Miz you should have put BALL TOSSAGE in your title for some mad SEO!!

    I love you and your whistling juggling video.

  13. It isn’t easy, it is fun, I learned a bit at one time, and you have given me good reason to go back and relearn. Thanks.

  15. This truly is fitness not fitting in 🙂
    I guess it could be a workout though.

  16. hahah cute video. Love the background music 😉 “Juggling increases range of motion in arms and shoulders.” who knew! maybe I should have Josh juggle as he starts to recover from the surgery he had on his arm 😉

  17. ahhhhhh….thank you for a fabulous laugh to start my day!!! loved picturing you chasing the tennis ball and getting all zen like when you did manage to toss (and catch) both pairs of socks!

    fabulous!
    xo

  18. I almost forgot that “juggling” isn’t just a metaphor for modern life, but is an actual activity you can do on purpose for fun! Laundry day is coming up, I think there are some socks that need flinging. Thanks for the inspiration!

  19. I never knew there were so many benefits to juggling! Unfortunately, it would take years for me to be able to learn to juggle one ball, much less multiple ones. 🙂

  21. I’m still trying to be coordinated enough not to walk into door frames and bump my knees on tables. Juggling is so far from something I can feasibly do. I’m a klutz at heart, so if I did try, it’d be with painless, squishy balls. For when they all come crashing into my face.

  23. The twins and I will give this a go today with rolled up socks.

    Ill report back the destruction.

  25. I admire you for trying this! I like the relieve stress part but am afraid it may stress me more not being able to do it! 🙂 Definitely like the ” Juggling may also prevent the onset of Alzheimers. Its forced use of problem solving skills (you can’t just toss the balls and hope you catch them. take my word for it.) is thought to stimulate oft neglected parts of the aging brain.” we have that in the family so….

    Not sure I am going to try it but ya never know.. I may need that laugh.. at myself trying it! 🙂

  28. Wowzers. 41?
    I think you could kick this 22 year olds ass 😉

    I hope I look like you at 41.

  30. Can I just say how impressed I am with your WHISTLING ability?? I can only whistle one note (it’s the you-kids-get-your-tiny-heinys-over-here-this-second woot) but I’ve always always wanted to be able to whistle a tune! Who cares if you can juggle if you can whistle like that.

    But I do understand the juggle-love. My dad can juggle and would always pick up random things at home and just start throwing them around. Made regular Saturday mornings feel like a circus. It was awesome. I used to be able to juggle three things with some consistency but it’s been a long time. Going to go try now!

  31. Wow! I’m seriously impressed! I have a friend who’s an avid juggler and who’s tried on occasion to teach me, and honestly I think I’m just two uncoordinated. Props to you for learning!

  32. Emma I’m totally printing out your comment today and placing in my pocket to reread when when I need a BOOST!

    Made my day 😉

  33. I can totally see the fitness benefits from juggling! I’ve tried a few times, just in passing, but quickly grew tired of chasing the dropped balls around. I never thought of SOCKS! Socks won’t roll under the sofa (after taking out a row of photographs on the shelf.) Thanks for that little tip! I’ll be tossing my socks this very afternoon!

  37. LOL!! You crack me up! I think every kid tries to juggle. Can I do it? Yes, but not to well. It’s still fun!

  38. My husband can juggle like a professional circus act. Me…not so much. It is hard. I get frustrated and lose concentration.

  39. I know you are kind of joking with this post but I think it’s actually a fab idea for working balance and core!!

    Kudos MizFit.

    (I love your navel tattoo)

  40. Back in junior high school PE we did just about everything under the sun. One of them was juggling. I could barely keep 3 balls going for a few rounds but sometimes I got lucky.

    Sometimes, I feel like I need to be able to juggle like SIX to get everything done lately. Sigh. Happy sigh, but still sigh…

  42. Now if only I could demonstrate my writing ability…previous post must have been written with one eye closed and both hands juggling…

  43. We have a joggler in St. Louis.

    Dude straight up jogs and juggles through Forest Park. I would be on the way to the hospital if I tried such a feat. Once you tackle juggling, perhaps you can take on joggling? 😉

  46. I wasn’t you (not nearly) but I did lead our seminar in some juggling attempts with crumpled paper yesterday during the donut break!!

    Thanks Miz for the idea.

  47. love this post!! now i am looking around my office for things to juggle! and LOVE the joggler link.. did you see the thing where they were running on water?? cool.

  49. Well, this is wonderful. Juggling is a great metaphor for other challenges. There is a lifetime to mastery and no end of ways to increase its difficulty. Even juggling three props is an outstanding accomplishment that actually would still put you among small company even without juggling gas powered chainsaws.

  50. I can barely catch one ball at a time… (I blame my father – he never played ball with his girls!). So I think I’ll give the juggling a miss. But it sure looks fun!

  51. Hm, I never thought of juggling as a workout, but you’re totally right. It certainly includes a lot squats or bending over to touch the floor!

    My $.02 if you want to progress with juggling – when I learned, I found beanbags were much easier to work with than socks. They won’t drift, and your hand will automatically close around it when you catch it rather than having to consciously snatch it out of the air. You want something heavy enough to throw like a baseball. Beanbags also don’t roll away when you drop them!

    I knew a guy who liked to juggle two pound weights, he said it made a fantastic workout for the biceps and shoulder muscles. He was kind of nuts.

  52. Useful information. Fortunate me I found your website unintentionally, and I am stunned why this accident did not came about earlier! I bookmarked it.

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