The Urge to Erg

Late on Monday night, Matt Hale brought me his rowing machine. Earlier in the day, my physical therapist approved me for such a machine. For those not in the know, this machine is commonly referred to as an erg. This is a shortening of the longer word, "ergometer." The philologist in me can't stop from telling you that "ergo" comes from the Greek word for energy, and "meter" comes from the word for measurement. So these machines are designed to measure the energy that one expends in rowing. Usually, elite athletes, most often on crew teams, use them to improve their performance.

I'm using this machine for a very different purpose. First of all, it is a full body workout, that improves strength, balance, and coordination. I'm still pretty good on the first of these three, though I can always use work on strength, but I still need lots of work on the last two. Right now, I'm using the machine three times a day for about 10 min. each time. I'm also trying to keep the energy level up to about an average of 600 cal per hour.

The physical therapist recommended this machine for a number of reasons. some of them I laid out above, but this one you will love: When I'm finished, I'm already sitting down close to the ground, and there is no fear of a fall after exertion. With an elliptical machine (which I did get approved for also, after a very unpleasant 10 min. of bouncing up and down on the machine – talk about vertigo!) there's usually no place to sit down immediately afterwards. How do you spell, "fall risk?" A stationary bike is better, since I'm sitting when finished, but I'm still pretty high up from the ground.

I really like the erg and I'm using it quite a bit. Of course, I have other exercises (some of them very tough) that the physical therapist has given me. But right now, I'm very excited to use the erg.

My goal, is eventually to get my energy average up to 1000 cal per hour, but I don't think I'll reach that for a while. I'm also hoping to get up to 20 min. per time, three times per day. According to the physical therapist, I should take things easy, and I am, but she also said that the more I use this machine and do my other exercises the more quickly my balance and coordination will return.

My vision is also improving, to such an extent that the occupational therapist recommended that I change the prisms on my glasses. Great news! Unfortunately, my ophthalmic neurologist is on vacation right now. So we'll have to wait until he returns. Oh well, לאט, לאט as they say in the holy tongue.

Esther is in Israel right now, so my mom is here, which is great. We've spent lots of time together and had great conversations. Today we had sushi for lunch together, and that was a lot of fun. She's really enjoying her grandkids, and helping me to keep the house clean enough so that Esther doesn't freak when she returns.

I'm feeling good right now, exercising, working hard, learning Mishnah, going through the Sifra, and preparing my syllabus is for the fall. The progress is good. But it isn't a straight progression, and I want you to know that. Some days are better, some not as good. It's like one of those old stock charts, that shows an upward line, but with lots of dips in it. Things are getting better for sure. But as with anything important in life, it just takes the time it takes. That's all.

That's it for now, be well and think good thoughts. Kol tuv, Mordy