Ryerson Campus, Toronto
From Shoes to Skates
One of my main inspirations behind the walking daily is our guru, Srila Prabhupada himself. The Jewish doctor, who came to diagnosed him when he had heart palpitations, in New York on Memorial Day weekend, prescribed walking. That’s how the program began. And that’s how I justify my doing it.
As long as there is no complete curfew, and walking to exercise is permitted, during this pandemic, I will take advantage of that. When the sun shines, I catch vitamin D, however, at night fewer people are about. While carefully roaming I encountered three areas where exercise was being taken very seriously, without walking, at night. College Park, Ramsden Park and Ryerson Campus were abuzz with people on skates.
Oh yes!
Skating was something I really had a problem with when young — I just didn’t have the ankle strength — but regular walking helped. So, there I was at the Ryerson rink, keeping a careful distance from skaters, envying the guys and gals who smoothly glided along on sharp blades. Oops! One guy fell after a faulty twirl. He just got back up and continued on.
I was really appreciating how these folks were building up their physicality in the face of Covid times.
I’m not sure if Prabhupada ever saw people moving on skates. In 1965 he saw his first snow in New York, let alone ice. If he did, I’m sure he was fascinated by how people adjust through different climatic conditions. He was born in 1896, so in his time he had lived through pandemics, two world wars, the depression and the partition with Hindu/Muslim riots. He had seen a lot and saw how people had to learn to adjust during dark times.
May the source be with you!
7 km
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