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health

My Summer Run Through Park Slope

August 10, 2021 By Jackson Schroeder Filed Under: Journey to Health, Reader Wellness Tagged With: health, jackson schroeder, my summer run through park slope

Summer breathes new life into Park Slope, and the best way to see the neighborhood is on a late-morning run.

Photos by Blake Schenerlein

Last spring, when I started running, all I had was a pair of Nike Internationalists, the same shoes Anthony Michael Hall wore in 1985 when he played the part of Brian Johnson, better known as “The Brain,” in The Breakfast Club.

Simply put, I wasn’t accustomed to the sport. The idea of becoming a runner sounded like a dreadful way to spend my evenings after work and a stressful way to wake up in the morning. 

But when the pandemic hit, I, like so many other New Yorkers, experienced a staggering drop in my activity levels. I lost my daily commute to and from my office in Manhattan, traded going out for lunch and dinner for ordering in, and stopped walking over to my friends’ and family members’ apartments after work and on weekend afternoons. 

My days consisted of lifting my head off of my pillow and dragging my feet over to the kitchen table, where I’d sit and work for eight hours before moving to the couch to read or watch television until midnight hit. Rinse and repeat. 

After losing my mind for a month or two, I decided it was a good idea to lace up my thrift store Nikes and get some fresh air. Early on, I’d jog from my apartment on the corner of 5th Avenue and Warren Street to Grand Army Plaza, where, after staring at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch for a few minutes, I’d often decide to turn around and jog home. 

For the runners out there reading this and grimacing at the idea of running with heavy, unforgiving footwear, don’t worry. The Nikes didn’t last too long. My birthday was around the corner, which meant an early present from my girlfriend: a new pair of Brooks from Brooklyn Running Company. 

Before long, my two-mile jogs turned into four-to eight-mile runs. I began to trust my feet to navigate the cracks on the jagged Park Slope sidewalks and lifted up my head to see. On Saturdays throughout the summer, I’d take my long runs. 

I’d start outside my apartment and smell the potato pancakes and fresh pita bread being served for brunch at Miriam across the street. I’d look to my left and see the bartenders at Lizzy King’s Irish Pub setting up tables in the middle of a blocked-off section of 5th Avenue while the musician was tuning up his guitar to play. 

I’d turn right on 6th Avenue, where the towering brownstones would provide some shade until I hit Union Avenue, where I’d turn left. On Union, the smell of natural soaps, yeast, and essential oils would pour out of the Park Slope Food Coop and onto the sidewalk, where dozens of people were waiting in line to get in. 

Running up Union towards Prospect Park will remind you why the neighborhood is called Park Slope. The street, particularly on a hot New York day, is a deceivingly steep hill. But if your legs are able to muster it, the real treat, the farmers market, awaits at Prospect Park. 

Here is where I’d typically slow down to soak it in. I’d tune into the picking of the bluegrass band, often playing on the shaded hill that hugs the entrance to the exercise path. I’d smell the lavender and soap filling the warm summer air, and I’d fantasize about the frozen apple cider I’d get after my run. 

Crossing the Prospect Park bike path and entering the running lane is like merging onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. It operates with a sense of organized chaos, with walkers, joggers, runners, and sprinters of all ages subconsciously dodging each other while they move to the beat pulsing through their AirPods. 

On Saturdays, I’d do the full loop, which the Prospect Park Alliance tells me is 3.35 miles long. At the first bend, on the South Slope corner of the park, I’d see young children on the backs of horses that had been walked over from Prospect Park Stables, just a few hundred yards away. 

After the bend, I’d stop at the lake where parents teach their children how to fish while trying to avoid casting into a duck, swan, or goose. Around the loop, on the Prospect Lefferts Gardens side of the park, I’d turn my head left, peer through the trees and see the Concert Grove Pavilion, which served as the set to the famous dog wedding scene in “Broad City.” By turning my head to the right, I’d see generations of families grilling out and absorbing the sun. 

At the end of the loop, if I didn’t succumb to the temptation of buying a frozen apple cider, I’d exit the park and make my way down 7th Avenue, past Community Bookstore and over to Millenium Brooklyn High School on 4th Street, where I’d slow down my pace and jog to cool down on my way home. 

Summer breathes new life into the Park Slope, and running has helped me see the neighborhood in a way that I never had before. My favorite season is summer, and my favorite day is Saturday. There are only 12 Saturdays each summer, and in 2021 I’ll spend them running. 

Filed Under: Journey to Health, Reader Wellness Tagged With: health, jackson schroeder, my summer run through park slope

YOGA: The Four Noble Truths

March 20, 2018 By Anna Keller Filed Under: Bending Towards Brooklyn (Yoga), Yoga Tagged With: Brooklyn, buddhism, health, lifestyle, local, season, winter, yoga

What is it about the cold months in Park Slope that make Brooklyn stand out like a Charles Dickens village? With all the chaos and commotion of our city, our world and our speck in the universe, it is Brooklyn that remains unchanged. Even with new renovations, new neighbors, new schools, hospitals and restaurants, the true heart of winter lives and thrives on the streets of Brooklyn. Some of this has to do with the deep roots of our borough, the history of Park Slope and it’s surrounding neighborhoods. But, some of it also has to do with Yoga. 

Yoga has become a phenomenon in western culture. Brooklyn is no exception. This is nothing new. As human beings our attachment to the affects of yoga are great. Also, let’s face it; aside from the benefits we enjoy the community. It is in a yoga class where people find they can be alone. It is also in a yoga class that most people find they are not at all alone. So how great is our suffering during this season? How much time have we spent on our own hearts between the cool rush of holiday shopping and New Year’s promises? Winter in Brooklyn gives us the opportunity to deepen our practice in an open and more vulnerable way.

[pullquote]The four noble truths can guide us through a cold season and bring to light our own noble hearts. After all, winter is not about gifts or holidays or even resolution. Winter is about a solace we can find when we are quiet enough. [/pullquote]The true heart of winter resides somewhere between Windsor Terrace and Prospect Heights. I mean to say that if one walks through all of the neighborhoods that relate to these two places, there will be an abundance of coffee shops, a plethora of bars and a vast array of yoga studios. In the coffee shop laptops and frothy cappuccinos prepare us for our daily grinds by serving the daily grind. The bar allows us to unwind from the stressful perimeters of our work, family and home life. But it is inside the yoga studio where we may enter, remove our shoes and respect where we are in the moment. We do not try to escape the cold. Instead, we seek refuge and our own bodies feed us the warmth of our tired souls.

There are four noble truths that can be incorporated into these long months of winter; four noble truths seem to follow us on our paths to the heart. These truths ignite the cold months with a fiery reality. What we might find at the coffee shop, the bar or the yoga studio throughout the year is dukkha. Dukkha is the first noble truth in Buddhism and it roughly translates to “life is suffering”. I know, it sounds depressing right? Although this sounds awful it actually should have the opposite affect. It is a teaching that enriches the idea of impermanence. Our happiest moments can be considered dukkha because they too will end, and so we can say that our saddest moments are also dukkha. They will not last. Dukkha is significant in winter because the cold season too will end. Flowers will bloom again and so we can carry the first noble truth in our mind’s eye as a compass and as a means of letting go.

The second noble truth is tanha. Some translate this word as “craving”. This has to do with our human attachment to the things we desire, or just desire in general. Our need to attach ourselves to material objects, ideas and people create chaos within our hearts and minds. This truth has been realized on yoga mats all over the world. In Brooklyn throughout the cold months and the buying frenzies tahna sticks its tongue out at us and dares us to enjoy our lives as they are. Tahna asks us not to try and change anything but to see everything with a third eye as if we are hovering over ourselves without judgment but with a greater awakening of the spirit. It asks us not to hold on.

Nirhodha is the third noble truth and it is also an instruction on the end of suffering. It sounds so simple: just let go, stop craving things, stop attaching to things. But, I really want my cappuccino! This truth arrives at a slow pace. Through our yoga practice and meditation it comes. The need to grasp dissipates. We may awaken. We may stay asleep. But we practice. This is our path, which then leads us into the final and fourth noble truth.

The fourth truth, magga is our path. It is often referred to as the eightfold path because it is comprised of different areas and aspects of our lives and instructs us on how to walk our own path. In a nutshell it is a mindful way of living. The first three noble truths cannot exist or be realized without this one. The magga is like a sacred duty we have to ourselves and to the world around us.

The heart of winter in Brooklyn can be brutal. Or maybe I’ve just attached myself to that idea. But where there is a lull in the season, there is an opportunity to awaken on the yoga mat. The four noble truths can guide us through a cold season and bring to light our own noble hearts. After all, winter is not about gifts or holidays or even resolution. Winter is about a solace we can find when we are quiet enough. When we walk past the coffee shop, skip the bar and take off our socks at the yoga studio in order to look at our own feet, the ugliness, the beauty, the impermanence and the silent possibility of our own wonder.

 

Art by Heather Heckel

Filed Under: Bending Towards Brooklyn (Yoga), Yoga Tagged With: Brooklyn, buddhism, health, lifestyle, local, season, winter, yoga

It’s Summer, Dog. Get Moving!

August 17, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment Filed Under: Bark Slope Tagged With: cat, cats, dog, dogs, exercise, health, pets, vet

As the temperature grows warmer and the days grow longer, many of us feel the urge to get outside and increase our level of activity. What better way of doing this than getting some exercise with our canine companions?

Exercising with your pet is a great way to bond and has health benefits—physical and psychological—for both of you. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, more than 54 percent of America’s pets are overweight or obese. Starting an exercise routine with your pet is an important step toward maintaining a healthy weight.
Exercise can also help your dog burn off the excess energy that can lead to behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, destructive chewing or digging, and attention-getting behavior such as barking, whining, and jumping up on people.
The additional activity is good for people, too. Did you know that studies have shown pet owners walk an average of 300 minutes per week, whereas non-pet owners only clock about 168 minutes? That translates into a greater number of calories burned, improved cardiovascular fitness, as well as better mental and emotional well-being.

Warm-up/Cool
down

Just like humans, there are some warm-up and cool down routines that may benefit your dog. Launching immediately into strenuous exercise increases your pet’s risk of spraining or pulling a muscle or developing cramps. And by cooling down, you allow your dog to catch his breath. His heart rate will return to normal, and the likelihood of post-exercise soreness will decrease as lactic acid is removed from his system.
The length of your warm-up or cool-down depends on you and your dog’s individual requirements, but five to ten minutes should be enough for your dog’s body to adjust. It can be as simple as taking a light jog or a brisk walk with your dog before and after engaging in any intense exercise.
Routines suitable and safe for your dog will depend on aspects such as age and pre-existing orthopedic conditions, so it is essential to consult with your veterinarian prior to starting a warm-up or cool down/stretching routine.

IMG_0496
Get
 Moving!


Are you or your pet new to exercise? The first step is to schedule a check-up for your pet to ensure there aren’t any heart or respiratory problems that should be addressed.
Once your pet has a clean bill of health, get started by introducing a ten minute walk into your daily routine. Try taking a stroll around Prospect Park and gradually build the length and intensity of your sessions as you and your pet adjust to the increased activity. Be sure to vary your route occasionally to give your pet new places to smell and explore.
For those who are already more active, on-leash running, inline skating, and bicycling are fun activities to do with a canine companion.

Here are a couple of important points to keep in mind:
• Dogs aren’t all well suited for jogging or running long distances. Many are built for short, intense bursts of speed. If you do decide to run with your dog, be careful not to overextend her. If she seems sore or exhausted after a jog, cut back next time.
• Be sure to check your dog’s paws after a run. Dogs are susceptible to blisters, just like humans. Hot pavement can also be damaging to a dog’s paws. Consider running or cycling on soft surfaces that won’t be as harmful, such as dirt or grass trails. You can also purchase booties to protect your dog’s pads.
• Sustained running or jogging isn’t recommended for young dogs whose bones are still growing. If you have a young dog, be sure to check with your veterinarian before taking her on a run.

If you’re looking for something more structured, try an exercise class designed specifically for dogs and their owners, such as Go Fetch Run (gofetchrun.com). Classes meet on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. in Prospect Park.

Heat-Related
 Illness

As we enter the “dog days” of summer, it’s important to be aware of the heat-related illnesses that have the potential to turn a fun afternoon activity into an emergency trip to the veterinary hospital.
The most common heat-related illness people hear about is heatstroke. Heatstroke occurs when the body’s core temperature rises to a high level, inciting inflammation and organ failure. Avoid heatstroke by knowing limitations of your dog, breed specific problems and giving your dog time to adjust to the heat.
Our dogs dissipate heat through their skin and through evaporation from their respiratory tract via panting. They cannot sweat in the same way we do. Humidity makes heat loss through evaporation even more difficult, so be especially careful on humid days.
If your pet does become overheated, contact a veterinarian immediately. You can spray the animal down with room temperature or cool water, but never ice water. Ice cold water causes a decrease in blood flow to the skin and heat can’t escape the body, which makes heat exhaustion symptoms worse.
Don’t give sports drinks or electrolyte supplements to pets. Supplements like sports drinks can actually harm animals and make pets sick.
Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and dark red gums are all signs of heat-related distress. If your pet is panting uncontrollably or collapses, take the animal to your veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately.
Pet owners should also remember to make sure their pets have access to plenty of water at all times. It’s also good to stay near shady spots where a dog can rest and cool off if necessary. There are a number of pet-friendly businesses in our area that will provide water and a place to cool off for you and your pooch. Check Brooklynforpets.com for an up-to-date list.
Certain breeds, termed brachycephalic (short head), are at greater risk for heat-related illness because they have conformations that make heat loss from the respiratory tract difficult. Brachycephalic breeds include French bulldogs, English bulldogs, and pugs. These breeds should be exercised with extreme caution. A simple walk around the block may cause their temperature to rise to dangerous or even life-threatening levels.

Getting
 Used 
to 
the 
Heat

A good way to head off heat-related problems is to ensure your pet has adjusted to the warmer summer weather. Heat acclimatization is the body’s gradual physiological adaptation to heat stress. It is what makes an exercise a month into the summer less taxing than that same exercise in the first few hot days. Heat stress on the body is generated by the environment (a hot day), normal metabolism, and exercise.
Acclimatization includes changes such as salt conservation, changes in blood volume, and in humans, the amount we sweat. Heat acclimatization in humans takes around two weeks, so keep this in mind as you begin to take your dog out in the heat.
Also, consider exercising your pet early in the morning or later in the evening when the heat isn’t as intense.

Just
 Do 
It

Exercise can be fun and beneficial for both you and your dog. Whatever activity you choose, be sure it is one that is safe and that you both enjoy. Also, remember to use your common sense and consult your primary care veterinarian if you have any questions.

 

Dr. David Wohlstadter is a senior emergency clinician with BluePearl Veterinary Partners. He is also certified in canine rehabilitation therapy.

Filed Under: Bark Slope Tagged With: cat, cats, dog, dogs, exercise, health, pets, vet

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