Bathroom Gym

 When you are fortunate enough to reach a rather grand old age, your joints need a regular workout. I don't mean the kind that forces you to join a gym and wear silly tights or sit on a piece of metal equipment and spin away to boredom or adopt a kind of exotic religious aspect to mere stretching. I mean using your own bathroom every morning for about twenty minutes to give those muscles and joints a bit of a wake up call. You don't need to rush out and buy an exercise outfit. Your own skin is much better - and freer. There is no social aspect to these exercises. It's just you and me Baby. Here we go. First make sure the cabinet doors and other sticking out hazards are not there. Whacking your arms or hands or feet is not part of the fun. First loosen up and wobble everything on your body, wiggle and jiggle and toss your arms and legs about a little. Next stand in front of the counter top or wash basin. Hold the edge for balance, and let your neck slowly go round and round, up and own gently. Do not force any of your joints or muscles and if you have a radio with some pleasant music, turn it on. Snap, crackle and pop. Let music be your medicine. Hold your hands high over your head  and bend slowly from side to side for a few counts. You can build as you go.  Next rotate your shoulders forward for a few counts and then back for more counts. Get that little ball joint smooth again. Stand straight and without moving your hips, elbows up and twist from side to side and then tip bend from side to side. Do this for as many counts as  you feel seem to loosen you up. Grasp the basin or counter edge and with your body straight in  a forward push up position, bend toward the faucets and then back. Keep your frame straight. These are basin push ups. Do them safely with your feet  planted securely behind you. No slipping please.  Next, holding the basin edge, swivel your hips around and around as though you are cleaning out the last bit of whipped cream from a big bowl. First go one way and then the other. I say counts, because I began with very few and worked my way up. It's fun to note your progress.  Always go gently. You aren't being yelled at by a personal trainer, you're in your own bathroom and you can enjoy doing it your way. No drill sergeants here. Now raise your knee up forward as high as you can. Lift and down. Lift and down, first one leg and then the other. Do some counts. Now lift , bent knee out to the side and down. Do each leg. When finished, bend forward and like a figure skater, lift your leg backwards but keep it bent as you lift. You'll feel this in your seat and that's good. Those hip joints beg for exercise to limber up. Be gentle always, and keep your hand on the basin for safety. No one is watching. Doing these exercises in your own skin only is best. Stand, turn holding the basin, let your lower leg swing around in big circles to the right and later to the left. Do it with each leg. Next do the same, twist with your ankles. Feels good. Right? I don't try to touch my toes but if you want to do a few bends as far as you can, okay. Never force your body. Now you are ready to get into the shower or bath and enjoy a day with joints that are much more ready to cooperate.