Because the sides of my hoop building garden were open, I could feel a gentle breeze. But the late May sun made everything within the protective confines of its plastic walls feel hot. There were only four more small nursery plants for me to tuck into the garden row, so I doggedly continued. I made a slit in the plastic mulch covering the drip-taped row. Then I scooped a handful of the soft, warm, moist soil out from the opening. After placing the infant plant in the hole, I poured a cup of water over its roots and covered it with soil. I did this three more times before standing up.

Pulling off my gardening gloves, I sat on the steps of my deck. A small, cool breeze swirled around the corner of the house. It felt good, but I wanted a stronger breeze. It occurred to me that by going for a bike ride, I’d cool off. Moments later, I was pedaling my bike away from home.

Having recently retired from the hospital, I felt fit and capable. I tilled and planted my own garden each spring. In late summer, I washed every window in the house. Before winter arrived, I’d buy six tons of wood pellets and throw the 40 pound sacks into the basement and stack at least half of them. My only physical limitation was the distance I could walk, due to arthritic foot joints.

My life became more sedentary as the years passed, especially during the winter. I didn’t work outside the home anymore and the cold and snow kept me mostly indoors. One day I realized that a stationary exercise bike would be the perfect thing for me to buy to get me moving. At the store I picked out a mid-price one that showed how many minutes an exercise session lasted, the speed, calories burned, and distance covered.

The exercise bike was heavy, so I had someone carry it upstairs for me to my children’s childhood bedroom. My helper teased with a wink and chuckle, “Maybe you shouldn’t put it up there. You know the saying, ‘Out of sight, out of mind’!”

My helper’s friend laughed, “Exercise machines at home never get used, even if they are out in the middle of plain sight. My sister has a treadmill in her living room and there’s always something draped over the dusty thing. I hang my coat on it when I visit her.”

From reading articles and talking to friends, I realize that many people who buy exercise equipment don’t use them as they should. Christa Valentine, owner of a CrossFit Gym in Charlotte, NC, said, “People find it hard to get motivated if they’re trying to work out alone at home. Competition is another reason why people often go to a gym. People want someone to compare themselves to.”

Not everyone allows their home equipment to go unused. One such person stated, “I like exercising at home because it’s comfortable and quiet and there is never a wait until someone else is finished using the machine. Also, it’s free and there’s no commute!”

When I first started using my stationary exercise bike, I realized how very boring it was to spend time on. No matter how fast you pedal, the scenery never changes. You are alone, so there are no people to wave at. When a person is having fun, time passes faster than greased lightning, but on an exercise bike, time passes slower than a kidney stone.

It has been almost ten years since I bought my stationary bike, and I use it consistently almost every morning, even on the days I don’t feel like using it, or on the days I have a knee or a hip that hurts. After a few revolutions of the pedal, I relax. I don’t push against strong resistance, because I believe the most important thing for me is movement. 

What has kept me so faithful to my daily routine of spending 15 minutes pedaling my exercise bike? The secret is keeping my mind occupied. I pray. Interesting biblical pictures form in my mind as I pedal. I never feel alone because I salute holy souls in my prayers and feel that they return the salute. Boredom is never a factor when I religiously exercise.