THE MANDELA WORKOUT

A Freedom Fighter to the bone

Mandela spent his entire life fighting for freedom.

Whether it was representing non-whites that no one else would in court, or organizing protests from within the confines of solitary confinement, he never stopped at “good enough.”

He fought, and fought, and fought some more. He never gave up on his quest for freedom.

I'm currently reading Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. At a whopping 656 pages, it's taking me almost two weeks to read! Yet every chapter is utterly compelling, painting a portrait of a man who was unwavering in following a passion that most thought impossible to achieve.

On reading his autobiography, I was struck by just how much attention he has paid to his fitness.

Here are a few quotes I pulled out:

“I enjoyed the discipline and solitariness of long-distance running, which allowed me to escape from the hurly-burly of school life.”

“On Monday through Thursday, I would do stationary running in my cell in the morning for up to forty-five minutes. I would also perform one hundred fingertip push-ups, two hundred sit-ups, fifty deep knee-bends, and various other calisthenics.

“Exercise was unusual for African men of my age and generation… I know that some of my younger comrades looked at me and said to themselves, ‘if that old man can do it, why can’t I?’ They too began to exercise.”

“I attended the gym for one and a half hours each evening from Monday through Thursday… We did an hour of exercise, some combination of roadwork, skipping rope, calisthenics, or shadow boxing, followed by fifteen minutes of body work, some weight lifting, and then sparring.”

I was deeply touched by the following paragraph.

" I have always believed that exercise is a key not only to physical health, but to peace of mind. Many times in the old days I unleashed my anger on and frustration on a punch bag rather than taking it out on a comrade or even a policeman. Exercise dissipates tension, and tension is the enemy of serenity. I found that I worked better and thought more clearly when I was in good physical condition, and so training became one of the inflexible discipllines of my life. In prison, having an out let for my frustrations was absolutely essential.

Even on the Island, I attempted to follow my old boxing routine of doing roadwork and muscle building from Monday to Thursday and then resting for the next three days. on Mondays to Thursdays I would run on the spot in my cell in the morning for up to forty five minutes. I would perform a hundred fingertip push ups, two hundred sit ups, fifty deep knee bends and various other calisthenics."

I don't think I could have said it better myself; no wonder the man remains so trim and active at 93!