#HeshbonADAR
Friday, February 12, 2021 // Adar 5781
Today marks the beginning of Adar, the happiest month of the year! Did you know that when you exercise - even just a little bit - the body releases chemicals that boost happiness and suppress anxiety? With that in mind, we asked five of our colleagues to share their experiences of taking care of their bodies and spirits through exercise. (continues below)
Rabbi Daniel Pressman: "No Pain, No Gain"
P.E. class was a tale of failure, misery, and bullying (including by teachers). I was, and remain, uncoordinated, with poor proprioception. When I began my Rabbinic career, I realized that I had to find a way to keep fit that didn’t involve sports. I wish I could say that I had noble motives, but I was more like Mel Brooks’ 2,000 year old man, who when asked, “What was the means of transportation then”, replied, “Fear. An animal would growl — you would go two miles in a minute. Fear would be the main propulsion.”
So: fear of dying. My motivation has only grown stronger as research has accumulated about the benefits of exercise for both longevity and vitality.
I have worked with trainers for the past twelve years, and my current trainer, Carl, for more than six. I have two sessions a week, via Zoom right now, and exercise 2-3 additional days a week, including stretching, weight training, and cardio.
Rabbis Daniel Novick and Sarah Krinsky: The Joy of Peloton
Working on a completely virtual college campus this entire school year, I have found myself eager to find ways to make Jewish life on campus feel as normal as possible. However, some things, like our high holiday services, were simply unable to take place. While some would jump at the opportunity to take a year off of leading and officiating at high holiday services, I quickly recognized that I needed to do something that fed my professional and personal desires to mark Jewish time in a special and spiritual way.
Inspired by my favorite Peloton instructors, I decided to create my own indoor cycling hagim-inspired classes for my students and friends. Upon reflection, what turned out to be a fun, silly side-project actually inspired me to view my time on the Peloton as my primary form of self-care, both physically and emotionally.
Rabbi Michael Ungar: Finding the Parallels Between Fitness and Jewish Living
I began my fitness journey about 20 years ago when I was given a gift certificate for personal training at the local JCC. I was never athletic and did not participate in sports. What I liked about “working out” was that I was only in competition with myself—trying to lift a little heavier, add more reps or sets, or increase my speed.
In many ways, I have found that my fitness regimen parallels the Jewish life that I live. Like the mitzvot, I do not see exercising, eating properly, and getting enough rest as “optional.” I have an obligation to carry out the commandments (even though I may not succeed 100% of the time); I also am obligated to make sure that I take care of my body (also not always 100%). These are intertwined. Maimonides wrote about this connection; we cannot serve and praise God if we are ill or weak. This idea is encapsulated in the Asher Yatzar blessing.
Rabbi Jaymee Alpert: Connecting to My Body Through Exercise
Growing up, I was the last-picked in gym class for every single sport. I faked more injuries than I can count so that I wouldn’t have to participate, and my USY volleyball coach awarded me the “Most Improved Player” trophy, because honestly, I could only go up from where I had started.
No one was more surprised than I when I started to fall in love with exercise about fourteen years ago. At first, it was the thrill of having my body do things I didn’t know it could do: Push-Ups! Jump-Rope! Squats! Sled Pushes! And then, over time, I realized that I was connecting to my body in a deeper way.
Exercising, whether hitting the boxing bag (which I love), or deadlifting considerably more than I weigh (which I also love), not only keeps me physically strong but makes me mentally tough. Is the awkward phone call I have to make really the hardest part of my day when I have already made it through kettlebell swings and burpees? Moving my body also clears my head so that I can deal with the stress of life in general and the more particular stress of being a rabbi.
(continued from above) Look out for our Self-Care/Tefilah opportunities at Sacred Connections, our RA Convention, Sunday February 28 through Wednesday, March 3rd. We’ll offer Prayer, Movement, Music, and More!
If you are an RA member rabbi and would like to contribute to our #HeshbonHodesh series by sharing a brief self-care story or offering our colleagues an opportunity for connection, please reach out to Sheryl or Ilana by the full moon so it can make it into the next newsletter.
Wishing you a Hodesh Tov!
P.S. - If you're looking for a few more tips to boost happiness, take a peek at this article from Entrepreneur.