Ricky Harris
Busybody Exercises For Bodies Too Busy to Exercise is a
humorous approach to turning everyday actions like getting out
of bed, turning on lights; and tying your shoes into exercises that
work. These exercises are easy to do without special equipment,
and can be done at home; in an office, even in an airplane at
30,000 feet.
The book is entertaining and light reading. Each exercise has a
smile-inducing name like The Goosewalk, The Crotch Crunch;
The Big Squeeze and The Butt Slide.
The uniqueness of this book is making exercise non-
intimidating. Because it has a sense of humor it will peek the
curiosity of the reader, leading to experimentation of the
suggested exercises. Humorous, cartoon style illustrations add to
the fun. The exercises can be done by men, women and children
of all ages. They can use Busybody Exercises to get in
shape amidst their busy lives.
Although the exercises use ordinary movements and activities,
they are all based on sound exercise theory. Dr. Chadwick
Smith, Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the
University of Southern California School of Medicine wrote the
foreword.
Ricky Harris has been involved in body development most of her
life. She was trained by the U.S. Air Force as an instructor in
Physical Training before obtaining her M.F.A. in Dance and Ph.D.
in Choreography.
Dr. Harris is the author of Choreography and Style for Ice
Skaters, a staff columnist for 6.0 Skate Magazine; wrote a
monthly column for Skating Magazine for ten years, and
continues with these columns on her web site
www.aboutrickyharris.com.
She created a PBS Television series Dancethenics,
combining exercise and dance. She is a renowned choreographer
for competitive ice skaters, an Olympic coach; and conducts
workshops and seminars internationally.
Formerly from California, she currently lives with her husband
in Mexico.
WAIT! Don't turn on that light! At least don't turn it on in the
usual way. Instead, take advantage of one of the many acts you
perform during the routine of your day by doing it in an
unconventional way. You will then be exercising your body at
the same time.
BUSYBODY EXERCISE #1 THE LIGHT STRETCH
Stand with one side of your body facing the light switch, keeping
both feet together and knees straight. Raise your arm farthest
from the switch over your head in a direct line with your ears.
Bend to the side toward the light switch and flip it on. You will
feel a good stretch along the whole side of your body. Use this
exercise when turning lights on and off in all the rooms.
Alternate sides, using the right side when turning lights on, and
the left side when turning them off. If you want to slim your
waist and gain greater flexibility in your back, this exercise is a
good one.
It's fine to spend time on the care and style of your hair, and to
put thought into the planning of a flattering wardrobe. It is all
right for a man to have hair transplants, or for a woman to delve
into the art of cosmetics. But these all lose their effectiveness
when placed on an unconditioned figure. What is more
important than clothes is the "clothesline".
Let's begin at the start of the day, waking up, common to us all.
However, waking up to some people is a negative occurrence
You can make it a positive and fun experience that will help set
the mood of the day. Fun, you may ask? Well, if you've had
one too many the night before, it may take a little work!
Are you in the 33¼% of the population that pops out of bed
raring to go even before the alarm rings? If you are, get ready
for the second Busybody Exercise.*
BBE #2 THE GOOSEWALK
Get out of bed and set a direct course for the bathroom. Step on
your right foot keeping both knees straight.
The next exercise is for the feet and ankles.
BBE #129 THE ENTRÉE CURL
While waiting for the main dish to be served, start THE
ENTRÉE CURL. Curl the toes of both feet, lifting up on the
arches. Repeat 20 times. As conversation continues, begin
doing ankle circles inward and outward 10 times in both
directions. Use one foot at a time. Oops! Your napkin slides off
your lap onto the floor. As you bend to pick it up, you notice a
pair of legs under the table opposite from you doing ankle
circles. As you sit back up with your napkin in hand, you glance
across the table smilingly asking; "THE ENTRÉE CURL"? A
smile and nod is returned. A kindred spirit! You feel sheer bliss
as dessert is being served, confident you will be joined by
someone else doing THE CAKE FLEX.
BBE #130 THE CAKE FLEX
With your feet flat on the floor in parallel position, flex one foot
up as high as you can, keeping your heel in touch with the floor.
Hold in that position for 10 counts. Return and repeat with the
other foot. Next flex one foot, and while flexed open it to the
side and place it down on the floor in an open position. Repeat
with the other foot. Bring both feet back to the beginning
parallel position. Do the complete exercise at least 4 times
during dessert. Your ankles will love this exercise.
The dinner party was a success. You met a kindred spirit
and exchanged telephone numbers, and felt that the two of
you would be perfectly suited to one another. You feel
radiant and alive with expectations, and happy that you
found time to do other BBE's that night like BBE #28, BBE
#51; BBE #66 and BBE #69.
As you leave the party arm in arm with your new friend, you
reflect to yourself with a twinkle in your eye, "I knew when I left
my apartment this evening that I was going to be too busy to
exercise."
* Busybody Exercise will henceforth be known as BBE.
