Comments and References

Comments on Other Class Members Blogs:

References Used Throughout my Blog:
Arend, H. (1958). The human condition. Chicago: Chicago University Press


Christiansen, C. & Townsend, E. (2004). Introduction to Occupation: The Art and Science of Living. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.


Creek, J., & Lawson-Porter, A. (Eds.). (2007). Contemporary Issues in Occupational Therapy. Chichester. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


Health and Physical Education Online. (2010). Health and Physical Education in the New Zealand Curriculum. Retrieved from http://gifted.tki.org.nz/r/health/curriculum/statement/page31 on the 08/09/2011.


 Landers, D. (2000). The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.fitness.gov/mentalhealth.html on the 09/09/2011.


Pheasant (1986), Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics and Design.

Practical Considerations

Practical considerations influence how we engage in our activities or occupations. It is the supply of objects or tools necessary to effectively perform and engage in our occupations (Christiansen & Townsend,2004).
Everyone who engages in any activity needs to be aware of practical considerations. Practical considerations has the ability to hinder our performance and engagement in an activity. For example, I was off to the gym as it was raining outside, so I decided I just wasn't in the mood to set off for a run in the cold rain. I took a look down at myself, I had my socks, running shoes, exercise shorts, a singlet and jacket for after the gym so I didn't get too cold. I myself looked prepared. So on the way to my car I quickly grabbed a towel and my ipod. However this was my mistake, I arrived at the gym and began pedaling on the exercise bike, pedaling in time to the song playing through my ipod. I move on to the cross trainer, and that's when I take a proper look at my ipod and realise its on red alert for battery. I begin to panic and go very fast on the cross trainer, as I know I only have a little time left before my ipod runs out of battery. Not checking the level of battery on my ipod was a practical consideration, I did not take into consideration in this instance. I rely very heavily on my ipod when exercising and if my ipod runs out of battery I stop exercising. My ipod motivates me to exercise, and I must consider this factor when engaging in exercise.

References:
Christiansen, C. & Townsend, E. (2004). Introduction to Occupation: The Art and Science of Living. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Ambience

Ambience is defined as "the atmosphere of a place" (Collins English Dictionary, 2003). I interpret ambience as the mood or feelings a particular environment can give you.
In terms of exercise, the ambience it gives me varies depending on what exercise I am doing and where I am doing it. Throughout this post I will compare the ambience when firstly; exercising at the gym and secondly the ambience when walking on the river bank.
It's a Wednesday morning, a morning where I don't have a class to go to, so decide I have no excuse to not go the gym. On arrival at the gym I put my bag into a locker and quickly scan the room to see how busy it is. They gym always has a hot stuffy feel to it, not a feeling that I particularly like. Music is playing across the speakers in the room, however like always, I quickly put my ipod speakers in (so I am able to zone out). I select the exercise bike and begin pedaling while listening to my 'exercise playlist' on my ipod. I start to look around the room, at the other women's faces, I notice that no one is smiling or looking particularly happy. All women in the gym are on their 'individual missions', very much consumed in what they are doing and ultimately getting it done.
This ambience of individual missions is in complete contrast to the ambience of exercise when walking on the river bank.
I decide after being in a class room all day, a walk on the river bank with my dog, Frieda is exactly what I need. So off we walk, me and Frieda on our usual 4km river bank loop. It is a loop we are both familiar with, so familiar that I let Frieda off the lead so she can roam freely. The air is crisp and I breathe it in, appreciating every breath of fresh air. The river, the trees and the grass all different shades of vibrant greens. These greens give me a sense of peace and stillness. The ambience of the river bank is a calm, peaceful one. An ambience which I love.

References:
Collins English Dictionary. (2003). HarperCollins Publisher. Retrieved from
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ambience on the 21/10/2011.

Exercise, Labour or Work?

This posting will be based around a discussion we had in our tutorial class.  Hilary asked each of us to categorise our selected activity as either work or labour. I understand labour as an activity or duty essential for us to survive; "Labour is the activity which corresponds to the biological process of the human body"(Arendt, 1958). In contrast to this, I identify work as an activity selected by an individual, however one that is not essential to survive: "Work is the activity which corresponds to the unnaturalness of human existence" (Arendt, 1958).
 Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs identifies labour as a need (see diagram below).

After seeing Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs and definitions of work and labour, I would define exercise as work. I see exercise as work as it is not essential for survival, it is something I choose to partake in.
 Although I have identified exercise as work, this does not make it any less significant than labour. Exercise is able to provide me with many benefits; some of these benefits are identified on Maslow's Pyramid such as; fresh air while exercising (biological and physiological needs), achievement (esteem needs), meaning (cognitive needs), form (aesthetic needs) and self fulfilment (self - actualisation).


References:
Arend, H. (1958). The human condition. Chicago: Chicago University Press

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is defined as "the scientific study of human beings in relation to their working environments" Pheasant (1986). The main factors of ergonomics include the interrelationships of person, environment and occupation/ the activities an individual engages in. It is vital as occupational therapist's we take time to consider these three aspects with each individual clients, and acknowledge how each aspect relates and effects the other.
Ergonomics effects the way I participate in my activity of exercise drastically, for example after breaking my ankle two years ago, I have to be more considerate of the exercise I choose to partake in due to my previous injury. If I wake up and my ankle is feeling sore, I would not choose to go for a run and this causes heavy impact onto my ankle, however, I would choose something of lesser impact such as yoga or going on the cross trainer. Environment also plays a large part a significant part in the engagement of physical activity for myself. If it is freezing outside I find it much harder to motivate myself in participating in an outdoor activity, or if it is hot outside, I would choose to not be indoors at a gym and instead enjoy the fresh air and sun. People within the environment impacts my engagement in exercise also, I find participating in team sports extremely motivating as it helps me push harder due to a sense of responsibility I have not only for myself but the others in my team. Overall, I would categorise exercise as work rather than labour. Work is defined as requiring self investment, skill, craft and personal judgement, work is purposeful and meaningful Creek & Lawson-Porter (2007). I believe this is particularly relevant to exercise as physical activity requires skill, craft and personal judgement. I also identify exercise as being personally meaningful.

 References:
 Creek, J., & Lawson-Porter, A. (Eds.). (2007). Contemporary Issues in Occupational Therapy. Chichester. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Pheasant (1986), Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics and Design.