This post is pretty much just for me. I doubt anyone reading here would know the word parkour to be asking about it, but odds are if you work in an office, then someone has sent you a video of people doing crazy climbing and stunts. These are often labeled with something like free running, Russian climbing, urban climbing, freestyle walking, parkour or crazy indian monkey man . These amazing videos will feature things that nearly no one can do because the people in them are the best in the world.

All of these things are more or less the same. Parkour means climbing on buildings, over walls or past obstacles to train yourself to be better at it and get more fit. Ideally it’s something you train at so that you can be prepared to act in an emergency situation (fire, earthquake, being attacked/chased).

So why am I talking about this on a local community blog? Because it’s fun! I don’t train like I used to, and I want to get out more, but one of my concerns (though no excuse to lay around) is the response people will have to it. Training parkour sometimes looks like you’re breaking in to a building, and like with skating, many business owners are afraid people will get hurt and sue them. I’ve had pretty good reactions to my training, but I know some people that have been arrested for exercising this way. I understand the concerns though, and I think Cooper Young is a progressive enough place for people to appreciate this out-of-the-norm activity.

If you are interested in giving it a try, there are several websites that offer tips and advice like American Parkour. Don’t be intimidated by the level of activity you see in web videos either because those are usually world class athletes showcasing the best of their abilities. There are a couple of facebook groups for Memphis parkour, but they are definitely not that active. I still recommend nonetheless that you train with a partner even if you are both inexperienced because of the potential for accidents. Having someone around to help if things go wrong makes all the difference.

And last but not least, if you see me on top of a building or leaping over a wall, please don’t call the cops, or the psych ward.

Thanks for reading,
Jonathan McCarver

We’re on the cusp of spring weather now and it’s time to start going outside. That makes it even easier to get your needed exercise.

… what? Is exercise a bad word? Does it make you feel ill like the taste of cough syrup? I know what you’re thinking, “Hey, just because the weather’s nice doesn’t mean I have to get up at 6am and take a 3 mile run before work!” And you’re right.

Exercise isn’t just something you go out to do and buy a whole second wardrobe for, and pay a membership fee to participate in. Exercise can and should be a part of your day to day life that reduces stress and pain. I plan to write several posts here sharing ways to incorporate more activity into your life as well as fun recreation to get yourself and your family outdoors but for today I have one simple message. Just walk.

We are lucky in the Cooper Young area to have a lot of options in walking distance of our homes. Growing up in the suburbs meant I could walk from my house to a lot of other houses and that was pretty much it unless I wanted to brave 2 miles in the grass next to a 2 lane road with no curb. Now I can get anything from fresh produce at Easy Way to 20 kinds of draft beer across the restaurants and bars in one mile of my home. Even walking to Overton Park I pass another perfectly good park.

You don’t have to walk just to be walking. I hate going out to walk or run and going in a big circle to end up where I started. It just feels dumb by the time I’m done so I don’t do it. Instead I look for opportunities to enjoy a small walk or jog when I need something. One soda, a few bananas, a drink after work. Things you need to do anyway and if you take the extra 10 minutes to walk then you get the relaxation of time to yourself instead of the frustration of traffic and parking.

Most of all I want you to realize the benefit of a small amount of walking. No pain no gain is far from true in this case. Many respected researchers have demonstrated, with proof, that walking lowers the chance of diseases ranging from heart problems to osteoporosis. One of the best (though long) summations of benefits can be found on the How Stuff Works website http://www.howstuffworks.com/benefits-of-walking.htm . A couple more examples are http://www.coolwalking.com/benefits.html and http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/walking/a2004-06-17-walking-numerousbenefits.html

Finally I want to share a quote from one of our most famous presidents. Thomas Jefferson was a truly learned man. He is known to have spent years of his life reading and researching for 8 hours out of the day in his personal pursuit of good knowledge (and running 4 miles a day as well). His summation of walking and its effects:

“Of all exercises walking is the best.” – Thomas Jefferson