Day Twenty-Four: Davina (6 July)
on From Banglatown to Bangladesh (Bangladesh), 19/Aug/2010 10:39, 34 days ago
As in McCall. Seriously. Her exercise DVDs, with their jumps and kicks and punches, are an ideal way of relieving Bangladesh-induced frustrations, getting rid of excess energy, and ensuring a minimum amount of exercise in a country in which rickshaw-rides, in towns and cities at least, are the norm even for short distances.Logistics are involved. Heat and humidity means this kind of jumping and skipping and squatting are only possible in early mornings or evenings. Even then, enough electricity is required to keep the ceiling fans turning fast throughout. And even then, a‘cool-down’ period is needed. Not just the gentle stretching and slow-breathing of the end of gym classes, but also, literally, an opportunity to cool. Time for a cold shower to rinse away the ridiculous amounts of sweat (significant even when the fan is running, even more when the power goes halfway through), time for the beetroot-red of my face to fade.Despite the logistics, fitting in an exercise session is a way of ensuring some sense of productivity for the day, no matter what else happens. And feeling productive is always positive.