A lot of workout playlists feature hip hop tracks, but few if any of the songs are actually about working out. New York City based rapper, A$AP FERG’s “Meet Me At Cycle” is a song that was made specifically for workout playlists.

Usually, I ignore songs written for campaigns, because they seem to be inherently gimmicky. However, while FERG’s “Meet Me At Cycle Class” is a marketing ploy for the boutique fitness studio AARMY, and the Redline 275 BMX cruiser bike, it is a standalone work of art with a melodic 808-style beat and sultry lyrical flow.

The promotional videos are just as artful. They are simple in concept and presentation with FERG rapping while exercising on a spin bike alongside a group of performers/exercisers, who pedal on the bike in relationship to the song’s tempo. The campaign highlights the crossover between choreography and fitness, and how form and function are important aspects of both art and exercise.

From the moment I began my fitness journey, I started creating playlists that motivate me to move with intention and purpose. If I am doing a strength session, I choose songs that are heavy and powerful, which typically include extreme metal and hardcore punk. When I do HIIT or cardio, I always select electronic music, because it gives me the drive and energy to perform at a fast and steady pace.

Sometimes it’s nice and even beneficial for me to workout sans music. But even then, the sounds of deep breathing, the clanging metal of weights and an occasional loud grunt provide a rhythmic and sometimes melodic composition.

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Messages of fitness and wellness are omnipresent in today’s society. It’s commonplace to see signs for “protein infused” items in storefronts of wellness shops and fast food restaurants alike. In the online realm, you’re inundated with fitness themed videos and vlogs made by trainers pushing an exercise or nutrition plan (maybe ideology is the better word in most cases). The moment you let the algorithm know you’re a fitness buff, you’ll be sucked into the wide world of fitness influencing; and it’s an incredibly toxic environment for the most part.

My social media feed is 90% full of the aforementioned type of content. There are some specific people who I follow that do provide beneficial information on diet and exercise. I stick to viewing their content, because they are open-minded and have an accessible and diverse understanding and empathetic approach to discussing body differences and lived experience. But mostly I enjoy watching people do incredibly challenging calisthenics movements. There was one particular video that recently popped up in my Facebook algorithm, of a young man doing explosive clapping pull ups. Instead of celebrating the fact that this was an elite calisthenics feat, commenters focused on the guy’s legs; and made derogatory comments about him “skipping leg day” and even more deplorably, likening his physique to a chicken.

This is just one glaring example of many similar instances, which is why online fitness communities are often toxic environments. Negging and body shaming is rampant on internet fitness forums and social media apps like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

It’s hurtful for the person sharing such an amazing skill to see multiple people making unrelated and spiteful comments about their physical aesthetics.

It also shows incredible weakness on the part of the people who make harmful remarks. It’s apparent that they’re coming from a place of inferiority, and feel as if they have to partake in a frivolous takedown effort of someone who is simply sharing an accomplishment that less than 1% of the population can do.

And while years of therapy has helped me understand the latter to be truer than the former, I still am susceptible to peer influence and/or the perceived judgement of others. In fact, prior to seeing this video, I had started a vicious cycle of body dysmorphia, where I’m having irrational thoughts about being “too thin.” I was a thin person for most of my life, and had been teased about it in the past, so it’s clearly something lurking in my psyche. Although I’ve clearly made a significant physical transformation, and other people’s remarks confirm it to be true; I look at my own arms and legs and feel as if they are still too thin.

Most of my dysmorphia is connected to my OCD, but societal perspectives around fitness are major triggers and detriments. It’s something I need to get over, because it’s not productive to my training. I have faith in myself that I will overcome this mental obstacle and continue to focus on self-love and care. But what’s just as crucial is that we need to do a lot better as a collective in the fitness community, in order to be more accepting and acknowledging about the diversity of people’s bodies and their personal trials and tribulations. The fitness community should first and foremost be a place for encouragement.

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I was a teenage vampire. Reveling in the premise of eternal youth and mortality via vampirism was an essential part of my passion for goth culture. I lived the night life to the fullest by staying out all evening, and getting home just before the sun rose. Through the early aughts, my weekends were spent grooving on the dance floor of New York City’s goth clubs. I was fortunate to be one of the very last generations to experience the thrills and chills at Club Avalon, Drom, The Pyramid Club, The Bank/The Element and Downtime (i.e. Albion/Batcave events).

Although New York’s major goth clubs and parties are more or less relics these days (what goth doesn’t love a good ruin though?), the spirit of the culture has enjoyed eternal life. Goths are alive and well in the Big Apple. Those of us from the first, second and third generations (80s-2010s) are indeed older, but many of us are not letting time or age defy us. Like the vampires we sought to embody through art and fashion, some of us goths have interpreted the lore of immortality into health and wellness routines. The transition or continuity between goth culture and fitness is not that atypical. Whether coincidental or just a sign of the times, the Limelight (pre-Avalon and just before my time), arguably the premiere goth club, formerly located in a nineteenth-century Gothic Revival Episcopal church, became an upscale fitness center (which has also since closed).

I previously wrote about some key connections between goth culture and fitness (see: Goth Fitness). Goth fitness is an eternal journey of getting stronger and more dynamic, due to the invigorating ethos of goth music, fashion and other people I met through the scene. These elements are a perfect recipe for sustained wellness and self-care. The goth scene absolutely had its share of terrible gatekeepers and abusive people (i.e. psychic and energy vampires); but at large, it was and still is a scene where difference is celebrated. It is one of the more welcoming and empathetic subcultures for those of us who are neurodivergent, disabled and who have experienced stigma from mainstream popular culture.

Many elder goths have created spaces for intergenerational communal care. One influential space is the online platform, Bones in Black. It’s an account run by a self-proclaimed “elder goth,” who is a veteran of the 1990s goth club scene. The account provides a range of engaging content that is both nostalgic and timely for anyone who has in the past and/or still considers themselves to be goth. Bones in Black supports a positive and welcoming outlook for all types of personal and collective identities. This is especially true when it comes to physique. Goth culture is incredibly aesthetic, and that can mean that some goths might suffer from poor self-perception around body image. Bones in Black eschews archetypal ideologies about body image within the scene, while promoting a healthy lifestyle through movement that is accessible to diverse bodies.

A shining example of how Bones in Black puts forth healthy goth-inspired lifestyle content, is their “30 minute elder goth dance workout” on YouTube. They note that, “This isn't about perfect choreography or getting a six-pack. It's about moving your body, having fun, and reconnecting with the music and community that made us who we are.”

Dancing is a great workout. It burns calories, builds respiratory and cardiovascular endurance and releases endorphins that benefit mental health. As an elder goth who enjoys a good workout and good tunes from the comfort of my home gym, the goth dance workout is such a beautiful program.

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Speaking of molding a winning team, the New York Knicks are the reigning NBA champions (after a fifty-three year drought), because of great on and off court development. The team’s front office went out and got the right players, who not only play well, but are known for nurturing excellent personal relationships with their teammates. Their selflessness and camaraderie is a large part of why the team has taken the league and city by storm.

Truly, the Knicks’ journey to win the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy has been a wide source of inspiration. The city was absolutely full of aspiration and good vibes during their entire road to victory. New York City has witnessed so many memorable professional sports championships, but the 2026 Knicks are easily among the top five.

The amount of Knicks fandom and fervor coming from the artist community might seem a bit unexpected to non-artists. However, when you look at the art historical connection between basketball and visual art, there are ample examples of artwork that references the game.

To tip-off (pun intended) my concise discussion of basketball related artwork, are Tom Sanford’s whimsical caricatures of the New York Knicks. Sanford is probably the most visible Knicks fan in the entire art scene. In fact, aside from Spike Lee, Sanford is the next most synonymous person that comes to mind when thinking about the Knicks’ connection to the creative community.

Sanford’s stylized, life-sized cutouts of current and former Knicks players were the visual centerpiece of the 2026 championship berth. They were acquired by City Hall, where they remained on display throughout the playoffs. After the Knicks clinched their game five victory against the Spurs, Sanford’s imagery was paraded throughout the city. One notable display aside from City Hall, has been reproductions wrapped around some of the sanitation department’s garbage trucks.

While Sanford’s basketball cutouts represent pure joy, other works of art utilize basketball as a symbol to address social concerns. David Hammons has incorporated basketball hoops and other game-related objects in his installations, as an allegory for human struggle and the lived experiences of marginalized communities.

Higher Goals was a site-specific artwork installed in Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza Park over a period of eight weeks in April of 1986. It consisted of stylized basketball hoops, made from telephone poles adorned with motifs of colorful bottle caps. At twenty and thirty feet tall, these hoops are ten to twenty-feet higher than the official NBA hoops. The larger than official height is a choice to express the process aspiring athletes endure, and the confrontation they have with failure. Hammons explains that, “It takes five to play on a team, but there are thousands who want to play—not everyone will make it, but even if they don’t at least they tried.”

Although the towering installation appears daunting at first glance, the bold concepts in Hammons’ artwork typically have the opposite intent, which is to inspire viewers to believe in themselves, and set their sights on higher goals than what they perceive (or are told) is their limit.

There are so many more excellent examples of basketball related works of contemporary art, including Titus Kaphar’s Ascension (2016), Esmaa Mohamoud’s Heavy, Heavy (Hoop Dreams) (2016) and Hank Willis Thomas’ And One (2011).

Lastly, because this is a publication about the wonders of working out, there’s a video of Knicks super-star, Jalen Brunson going through a typical strength and conditioning routine, which you can watch here. Notice that one of the exercises includes stair climbs, which I wrote about in my previous post. Overall, Brunson performs a series of compound movements that help him stay limber, powerful and durable during games.

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As a home fitness trainer, I relish finding flexible methods for programming well-rounded exercise routines with limited space and equipment. Building strength, endurance and muscle from home takes equal parts motivation and innovation. You should invest in high quality gear based on your fitness goals and experience (on that note, I highly recommend checking out Garage Gym Reviews), but your home might have some inconspicuous non-gym related materials that can be utilized in your workouts.

One of the biggest benefits of working out remotely is that you can achieve incredible fitness goals at a pace that suits your overall lifestyle. A fairly simple way of doing this is through a method called exercise snacks.

If you’ve been a reader of mine for a while, you’re likely familiar with this term. If you’re a new subscriber, welcome; you can find a prior post about exercise snacking with an example of a workout here.

In summary, these are dynamic or strenuous activities that seamlessly blend movement into your daily routine. For example, if you’re inclined to sit at a desk for hours on end, you can ensure that you’re not falling into a sedentary lifestyle by getting up every fifteen to twenty minutes and doing a short set of bodyweight squats, or use your desk to do a few reps of incline or decline push ups. By the end of the workday, you’ll have done hundreds of reps, building muscle and strength.

One of the most convenient things to do at home, either as a full workout or an exercise snack, is stair climbs. It is exactly what it sounds like, walking up and down flights of stairs for a set period of time or number of reps. Maintaining a steady pace is a great way to build cardiovascular endurance, while including some faster movement, can train you V02 max. You can add some resistance for strength and muscle building with a weighted vest or by holding a pair of dumbbells by your side in a “suitcase” position.

While stair climbs are convenient and effective low-impact exercise that combines cardio and strength training, they require a lot of spatial and bodily awareness, especially when adding weight or tempo. Some ways to stay secure include keeping good posture with shoulders in a neutral position and climbing with a slight forward lean while placing your entire foot (from toes to heels) on each step to activate your stabilizing muscles in the glutes and quads. Find a pace or weight that you’re confident with to start out, and aim to progressively load up on weight and/or build speed over time.

One idea for turning stair climbs into an exercise snack, is that anytime you need to go upstairs, do a set of five stair climbs (one rep includes going up and down).

I’ll be posting more exercise snack features in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. In the meantime, take the stair climb challenge and let me know how it goes!

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This interaction was unexpected, but very much appreciated. Despite hearing similar compliments about my physique, I have bouts of body dysmorphia. I struggle with comparing my gains to others, and especially worry about looking too thin. This is a symptom of my larger OCD, and I am aware that my thoughts and feelings about my body are in contrast with physical reality. However, there’s a part of me that is traumatized from being previously underweight and malnourished as a result of my stifling mental health condition.

I no longer have a problem with eating or nutrition. I consider eating to be one of the things that gives me consistent joy. More than any time in my life, I’ve been eating a balanced diet. That includes satisfying my sweet tooth and indulging in the fruits of culinary art. So when those nasty thoughts pop into my head, I have to affirm to myself that I am on the right track with tangible results to prove it.

Being complimented by a stranger was part of an overall great day. Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” played in my head as I enjoyed a delicious meal of tandoori meats and Pakistani sweets on a bench in the park with my wife. Then we took our dog to the dog park, and he got to meet a really sweet companion who matched his agility and playful nature to a tee.

We also are undertaking a massive organizational project, and I am downsizing my personal clutter. As an artist and historian, I am a collector by trade. But it does feel good to get rid of certain things that I no longer need. In doing so, I have more space for objects and experiences that I feel define who I am and shape the course in life that I desire to take.

Upon reconfiguring my wardrobe, I put together an outfit that makes me feel like a rock star. I took a few selfies of myself because of how good I felt in both my clothes and my own skin. I might even use these pictures as promotional material for the album I’ve been working on (stay tuned!).

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AIZ is most notable for artist John Heartfield’s politically charged photomontages, which are a technical combination of two or more photographs to form a single image. Heartfield’s use of photomontage to create monstrous and sardonic assessments of the human condition is a practice that has been heavily utilized ever since in both fine art and editorial publishing. Today, this practice is somewhat corrupted by the use of AI, but there are still telltale signs that can differentiate between human and machine generated imagery.

I hesitantly bring up the use of AI, because at the time it was a new invention, photomontage sparked controversy amongst cultural critics and some artists, which is similar to how AI is being discussed in these circles today. But the thesis of this piece is not to delve into the ethics of AI, or how technology has essentially always been intrinsic within art. The point here is that photomontage enabled Heartfield (and other artists) to produce incredibly grotesque and acerbic compositions, that had a chilling effect because they felt lifelike due to the incorporation of traditional photography. This juxtaposition of realness and surreal elements were indicative of Heartfield’s intent to shock the public and critique authority.

While the Olympic games are both a literal and symbolic showing of physical and mental fortitude, Heartfield’s Olympic related imagery is antithetical to any signs of human strength. There are two particular Heartfield photomontages that best represent the fallacy of the Nazi regime: Program of the Olympics and Olympic Guests — Forward March!

Program of the Olympics is an eight panel visual essay of fictionalized Olympic events that Heartfield envisioned to be in line with the Nazi’s violence and depravity. It was published in a November 1935 issue of AIZ, as a seething call to attention regarding the hypocrisy of having the Olympics be hosted by a despot-led regime that was committing numerous atrocities. Heartfield’s invented games include “tug-of-war” (with Nazis dragging a Jewish victim along the ground) and "bodybuilding” (where malnourished concentration camp victims are shown being forced into harsh labor).

Berlin was chosen to host the Olympic games prior to Hitler’s ascension in 1933, and the Nazis were initially not keen to the idea of having the games in their country. However, they understood propaganda well, and knew it could be a way for them to rehab their negative image that was forming internationally. Olympic Guests — Forward March! unmasks the Nazi’s attempt to portray a diplomatic identity during the Olympic games. The photomontage depicts Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, herding athletes who have Olympic rings through their noses like cattle. Above them is an arch that reads, “Welcome to Germany.”

With the United States’ turn towards fascism, it’s not surprising to see the Trump administration’s appropriation of Nazi imagery and propaganda. The United States stirred up an ample amount of controversy during the recent 2026 Winter Olympics; and is receiving valid pushback for its role as the host of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament. Similarly to Hitler’s xenophobic ethnic cleansing campaign and militaristic governing, the Trump administration’s policies are at odds with the theme of global diplomacy that events like the Olympics and World Cup claim to embody.

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I enjoy the comic strip, because it’s a convenient form of comedic and cultural commentary. Recently, I was looking through some old sketchbooks and found clippings of old newspaper comic strips. That inspired me to keep an archive of both old and new comic related content that I can reflect on whenever I needed a quick pick-me-up. Instead of print, all the recent comic strips are digitally published, so this consists of screenshots in a folder on my desktop. In this post, I discuss two of the fitness themed comics that I’ve enjoyed, and hope you will too.

Beetlemoses

The comic strip artist known as Beetlemoses has some really whimsical content, which they share on their Instagram and other social media sites. You can also buy signed prints of their work (support the arts!).

Beetlemoses’ three panel comic takes a playful approach to bodybuilding and gym culture, where a fit, but more slender man expresses admiration towards a very muscular man entering the gym. His reaction is questioned by his female friend who asks, “why do guys even want to get that big?” Her inquiry is answered in the final panel, wherein a thought bubble reveals that the bulky guy is fantasizing about being in a jungle and hugging a gorilla.

If your goal is to pal around with gorillas, it’ll take a lot of training to even attain the smallest fraction of their overall prowess. Also, it’s just not a good idea in general to try and get too chummy with wild animals! Gorillas (especially the all-mighty silverback) are the most muscular of all the primates, and the strongest human’s lifting and throwing capacity pales in comparison. Their swole body composition and powerful gestures of strength have inspired several aspects of fitness, from actual exercises like gorilla rows to supplement companies like Gorilla Mind.

I simply love this comic because it’s zany and fun. But it also speaks to something that I’ve struggled with from time to time, which is body dysmorphia. For me, it’s a reminder not to become obsessive about fitness and hypertrophy; and also to be less inclined to compare myself and my body composition to others. I am still learning to just enjoy the process and be grateful for the ability to do what I can do while I can do it.

Gabrielle Drolet

Gabrielle Drolet’s four panel strip featuring a rabbit consumer buying coffee from a dog barista, is a cute commentary on one of the most overwhelming topics in fitness today, which is the obsession with marketing and consuming all things labeled “high protein.”

This craze, driven largely by social media and influencer culture, has conflated the concept of getting ample amounts of protein as the ultimate benchmark of health and wellness. Brands and corporations have jumped on the bandwagon too. For example, Dunkin’ has a a new line of high-protein lattes and drinks featuring “Protein Milk“ (ultra-filtered milk), which contains fifteen grams of protein in a medium beverage.

The ingredients in the aforementioned lattes, specifically the ultra-filtered milk, offers benefits such as more protein, higher calcium and less sugar than standard milk; but the draw for companies to label a product as being high in protein can be dubious, because several protein packed (i.e. protein-fortified) items are essentially just candy and/or are actually very highly processed foods. Furthermore, there was a 2025 study showing that protein powders, which are a very popular supplement used to add protein to beverages and meals, contain significant levels of lead. The best way to get your protein goals is whole-food sources such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, nuts and lentils. And as I mentioned in the last post, “The best thing to do if you’re struggling or concerned about your diet is to consult a licensed nutritionist; and not take advice from random and unqualified social media influencers.”

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What the Duck?!?

Is it nightmare fuel or culinary fine art? That’s the polarizing response I got from friends when I shared an image of a duck, prepared by Qi restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton in Beijing, China to resemble the physique of a bodybuilder. This Peking duck, a traditional Beijing delicacy, features prominent pectoral (pun intended) and other well defined muscles.

The conceptual meal alludes to duck’s high protein content and other beneficial nutrients, and acts as a symbol of the restaurant’s quality. It suggests that this is a dish that’s physically fit to eat.

Consuming protein rich foods among a balanced diet is a foundational element of fitness training. When we work out we’re creating microscopic tears in the muscles, which are repaired and built back stronger during periods of recovery, and with a good diet and sleep routine. Pumping iron signals the body to engage in muscle hypertrophy, but muscle is made in the kitchen.

Eating well has different implications for different individuals. The best thing to do if you’re struggling or concerned about your diet is to consult a licensed nutritionist; and not take advice from random and unqualified social media influencers.

There are a number of reasons why folks have complex relationships with food. At its core, nutrition shouldn’t be a daunting, exclusionary and controversial concept. There’s a major problem of food and body shaming in the fitness and wellness industry. Shaming anyone about food and activity choices is counterproductive. You may think you’re offering “tough love,” but (often unsolicited) snide comments about what someone eats and does physically, can do far more harm than good. Someone who is struggling to eat due to an eating disorder or physical ailment does not need you telling them what (in your opinion) “good food” and “bad food” is, they simply need to eat.

I’ve had recurring issues with eating disorders and body dysmorphia, which I’ve written about several times on this platform. One of the biggest things that has helped alongside therapy to find the root reasons for my eating disorder, was my development into a self-proclaimed foodie. I eat to live, and also live to eat. Enjoying the fruits of our culinary labor is a privilege that is unique to the human condition. Cultural traditions are a significant reason for eating and enjoying food. Meals are sustenance for more than the body when consumed this way, because they become social, emotional and intellectual nourishment as well.

Food, like visual art and education, is a gateway to cultural understanding and appreciation. The culinary arts foster dialogues about our unique and collective identities in an empowering setting. And the plurality and potency of this cultural exchange is why food has been a popular medium for artists. The list of artists utilizing food production, distribution and/or sharing meals is extensive. It includes Gordon Matta-Clark, Michael Rakowitz, Briana Calderón Navarro (Collective Focus), Heather Hart and Jina Valentine (of the collective Black Lunch Table), Rirkrit Tiravanija, Alison Knowles, Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw and Mary Mattingly (Swale).

Labeling food using binary terms (i.e. ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’) ignores the other vital aspects that are associated with it. Rather than admonishing people for how and what they eat, it’s fruitful to embrace a nuanced understanding of why they are eating that way, which includes mental health, physical health, cultural identity and food insecurity.

A balanced diet includes individual needs, tastes and preferences. If you’re looking for advice, seek the professional services of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist; but don’t let anyone make you feel guilty, or impose their morality around what and how you eat.

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In Yves Klein’s Le Saut dans le Vide (1960), the artist’s body works in tandem with traditional artistic processes to create an otherworldly spectacle. Klein’s iconic conceptual photograph (which was also a piece of performance art), depicts him jumping in mid-air, as if he were trying to fly like Superman out of a second story window. Realistically, the laws of gravity would have him belly flop onto the hard concrete street, but the medium of photography, along with his background in martial arts, makes Le Saut dans le Vide a leap of faith into what is possible within the sphere of human ingenuity.

Klein knew that he could perform a graceful leap because of his training in Judo; and he knew he could create a convincing composition that appeared as if he were in flight because of his knowledge of photography. Although he grew up in a household where both his parents were well known artists, his path for higher education and expression led him to study Judo in Japan, where he became a renowned martial arts practitioner and educator, known as a Judoka. When he later decided to work as an artist, his martial arts background had a profound influence on his minimalist and meditative works of art that involve choreographed bodily gestures and monochromatic sequences.

There are notable similarities in the fundamental aspects of martial arts and visual art. For example, each discipline facilitates an intimate exploration of spatial awareness, in both physical and spiritual realms. Movement is not just confined to objective spaces such as an exercise mat or a canvas. The martial arts and visual arts connect acts of physical exertion and gestural movement to experiences of spiritual abstraction and inner consciousness.

There is also a relational connection between the martial arts and visual arts with regards to the performative nature of skill building and technique. Each discipline abides by praxis, which is the process of putting theory, ideas or skills into real-world action. In martial arts and visual arts, skills are developed through rehearsing and applying fundamental elements within each discipline.

The visual artist and martial artist utilize systems of contemplative repetition, which when they become proficient, enables them to employ creativity and lucidity during unpredictable and challenging moments. In Judo this is enhanced through katas, which are choreographed patterns of movements that a Judoken performs as a means to progress towards the next phase of their training. In art, practicing with the elements and principles of aesthetics give artists the vocabulary and confidence to create their own forms of personal expression.

As Klein started to translate his mastery of Judo within the field of contemporary art, he specifically honed in on the Judo concept of Kuzushi, meaning “unbalancing”. In Judo, Kuzushi is a dynamic and spontaneous motion where the thrower creates a gap by moving out of the way, causing their opponent to lose their balance and fall into the empty space, or void. This movement enables the thrower to achieve Seiryoku-Zenyo, which means they apply the maximum efficient use of energy, while avoiding brute force or wasted effort. Often times during Kuzushi, the thrower engages in Sutemi Waza, meaning sacrifice techniques, by putting their own balance at risk to achieve the throw and create the “void”.

Le Saut dans le Vide, which in English means “Leap into the Void”, is an example of Klein’s implementation of Kuzushi as a contemporary art methodology. His leap, which was possible through his athleticism and photographic manipulation, exemplified how the human body and artistic media can disrupt cultural norms and influence themes of spiritual abstraction.

To execute the composition, Klein’s wife and friends held a tarpaulin to safely catch him as he fell from the air. The illusion of him elevated above an empty street was made possible by photographers Harry Shunk and Jean Kender, who superimposed an image of the empty street with one of Klein’s fall. This illusion was significant for communicating Klein’s desires to express malleability and assert art’s essential non-material elements that signify emotional and spiritual sensibility.

In both martial arts and visual art, the void is not an empty space, but rather a vessel full of opportunity. Jumping into the void means confidently opening ourselves up to vulnerability and being malleable to change direction and goals when we experience imbalance.

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Mime over matter:

Because most of my own posting is focused on fitness, I get a lot of fitness content suggested to me by the algorithms of social media apps. Most of the time it’s either educational content or reels of people doing ego lifts. But the other day, this gem from a content created named Crybaby Pixie reinforced the philosophy I have that fitness should also be fun and sometimes even frivolous.

Crybaby Pixie seems to be one of the busiest mimes on the internet. But she still has time to go to the gym! In this reel, she is pantomiming a deadlift inside of an actual gym. Without using an actual barbell or any other piece of equipment, she hinges her hips, slightly bends her knees and lifts with fine precision. Her body language informs us that she’s lifting a heavy load, possibly a 2RM. Despite not really holding a barbell, this is an accurate simulation of a deadlift. In fact, I find it much harder to correctly mime lifting weights than actually lifting them!

Lifting weights is as psychological as it is physical. I’ve consulted and coached individuals who were hesitant to do a certain exercise or lift heavier weight, because in their mind they were already setting themselves up for failure. Of course, failure fitness is not a binary term. In fact, if you’re doing an exercise with good form, failure is the goal. When it takes longer to achieve failure with a particular set of weights or number of reps, it’s a telltale sign that you’re ready to progress further. Another way I build clients confidence and capability is through instructional scaffolding. This is a method I use often in my own training too.

When working towards a new PR or developing new skills and techniques, I scaffold exercises so that they are more accessible, and I can accurately chart my progress step by step. Breaking down movements and progressions into smaller steps is key to ensuring that I’m adhering to proper form. So no matter how heavy I’m lifting, I feel both confident and capable because I’ve gone through the necessary progression both mentally and physically. It’s truly a case of mime (er, mind) over matter!

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Good New Years day to all those who observe it! I hope that whatever you set out to do in 2026 fills your heart’s desire, and that it’s just the start of 365 and more days of carpe diem, and/or simply living your best life.

We’re upstate in the snow covered woods and mountains, in a town that had a formative influence on my childhood and adolescence. In many ways I feel (and certainly look) like such a different person than I was then. But at my core, I am who I always have been, just with a lot more lived experience.

I had a very happy upbringing, although despite everyone’s best efforts, I struggled mightily with intrusive thoughts, obsessions and rituals. My OCD was the main culprit, and has been for the better part of my forty one years. I have lived with the feeling of my brain being stuck in a loop, like a broken record, or more aptly for my generation, a skipping CD.

But there are moments of solace, such as coming up here to this place upstate, which manifests a calming and invigorating effect. And so here I sit by a warm and cozy electric fireplace thingy, after having taken a midnight stroll down a dark dirt road and feeling the chilly air and flakes of fresh snow falling on my face. I still had a flood of intrusive thoughts, however they subsided a lot quicker than usual. This brings to mind a phrase my psychologist mentioned to me, which is to “Enjoy the good moment before it leaves and returns again.”

2020 to 2025 have been the best of times and the absolute worst of times. I fell in love with fitness, but slid into a deeper and darker state of mental health than I’ve ever been in before. An arbitrary construct of time like the New Year is still a valid point to begin the mighty effort to ease my mind. I know what needs to get done. I need to reinforce and commit to the practice of being kind and good to myself, come what may. And I hope that if you’re also struggling, that you will do the same in whatever form and way suits you best.

<3

A poor perspective of body image is one of the myriad ways that OCD impacts my life. However, of all the negative thoughts and behaviors associated with my mental health struggles, this is one aspect where I can truly say I’ve broken the hold it’s had on me.

For decades I’ve had a complicated relationship to food. Eating was both physically and emotionally unpleasant due to my anxiety. This issue hit its peak and plateaued all throughout high school, college and graduate school. Oftentimes I was unable to sit down and eat with my friends, because the act of eating was making me physically nauseous. I tried smaller meals throughout the day when I had time to myself, as well as meal supplements; but the combination of not getting enough nutrition and my intense anxiety took a toll on my overall well-being. Comments from friends and classmates, ranging from seemingly innocent ones such as “you didn’t clean your plate!” to a nefarious and callous comparison of my frame to that of a “concentration camp” victim, obviously didn’t help.

Since then, I’ve had periods of bulking, but never for the right reasons. These periods were responses to negative thoughts, and what I perceived other people were thinking about me. It’s taken nearly three decades to get in the right headspace regarding nutrition and body image. But in the end, all it took was heartfelt devotion to myself. Of course that’s easier said than done, but I’ve done it!

One thing that’s crucial to my progress is not being influenced by negative culture. I don’t bother listening to any “wellness” influencer who either demonizes certain foods or eating behaviors, because these people are making sweeping generalizations and/or embracing and propagating misinformation. The only voice I listen to when it comes to my eating, is my own. I’ve essentially liberated that voice from my OCD and anxiety related thoughts.

Getting to this point has been helpful in terms of building autonomy, will power and confidence. Alongside a rigorous and disciplined exercise program (based on both intuition and research-based evidence), I’m eating enough and eating the foods that give me energy and build muscle. The evidence is tangible and I’m proud of myself for bulking up with lean cuisine like the delicious dish I made last night (see photo at the top): a filet of coho salmon (skin on, duh!) with sesame roasted seaweed and mashed white sweet potato.

Be good to yourselves, eat to live, live to eat and eat what you enjoy!

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On our annual drive to Texas we were blessed with four incredible days in New Orleans (two there, and two on the way back). Our set up in New Orleans was the epitome of big and easy. We had a spacious loft for ourselves and our two furry friends, within walking distance (about three miles) to the heart of the French Quarter and Tremé.

New Orleans is one of the most walkable cities, which is no small feat in a country obsessed with cars and electronic vehicles. As New Yorkers, the shoelace express is our favorite mode of transportation, so we felt right at home navigating miles of scenic sidewalks. We didn’t move our car from its parking spot once while we were there.

Down the street from the loft is a small park. Inside the park is a playground. One side of the playground has playground structures, while the other side has exercise equipment. The park is shared by adults, children and sometimes dogs after hours (seemingly because the nearby dog park closes rather early!).

Around midday, after eating and walking my way all over town, I’d venture over to the park to use the two pull up bars, stall bars and parallel dip bars. My favorite routine in this particular park is as follows: three sets of each of the following movements as a triset: ten pull ups (with a ten second L-sit hold on the last rep), twenty dips (with a ten second L-sit hold on the last rep) and twenty-five inverted rows. On one occasion, I was finishing up my last set of inverted rows, when I heard a child’s voice ask, “what’s your name?”

The voice got louder, and when I propelled myself up from the twenty-fifth and final inverted row, a child was practically standing over me. He asked again, “what’s your name?” He was playing earlier in the playground with his mother, so I glanced over to see if it was OK that her child was approaching a stranger. She nodded in approval. Once again, the kid asked my name, so I told him. Then the child asserted, “That’s not how you do exercise!”

“Oh no?!” I asked in a curious and playful manner. “Yeah, watch me!” and they fervently proceeded climbing up, down and through the stall bars, while proudly exclaiming how strong and skilled they were. I agreed. They then started telling me about their classes in school, and the games they liked to play.

I was curious as to what a child thought about exercise, so I asked what they were learning in phys ed. They said they play “cat,” which I assume is a kind of anthropomorphic role playing thing. At this point, the mother looked up from her book and asked if their child was interrupting my exercise. I said, “no, it’s all good.”

It was interesting hearing a young child’s perspective of what was and wasn’t exercise. Pull ups, dips and inverted rows were not, but “cat” was. The fact that this child identified my calisthenics routine as exercise, shows that they do in fact consider it to be physical fitness. But in their mind, their methodology works best for them. And that’s great!

It’s awesome to see someone so young be both confident and enthused by the concept of exercise. I told them “best of luck with your exercise and the rest of school, keep up the good, strong work!” and bid the child and their mother adieu.

This encounter gives credence to my philosophy that exercise starts with play. Maintaining that playful sensibility as we age, is the difference between a sedentary lifestyle and a fit and active one. It’s really that simple in most cases.

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Luckily, life is generally full of options to train under different and distinct circumstances. Being on the road means making adjustments, while maintaining the motivation to move. Two options for flexible training while on a lengthy road trip are deloading and exercising snacking.

Deloading is an important method that everyone should apply to their training. It’s a scheduled reprieve from intense lifting, which prevents burnout and allows for recovery; while allowing you to work on fine-tuning form, technique, mobility and agility. You can deload by reducing workout intensity, volume or both.

Deloading pays dividends on your ability to progress and make gains down the line. It’s ideal on the road because you don’t have access to your full arsenal of equipment, so with the limitations of only being able to bring a few weights, you have to have a mindset of less being more. I usually choose to schedule deload time during road trips for the main reason that I’m often preoccupied with so many other obligations. My workouts need to be scaled down so that I can fit in more time doing things I normally don’t do at home.

Exercise snacking is another strategy to ensure ample time for fitness on the road. For the previously mentioned reason of time constraints and routine shifts, breaking up a traditional workout into shorter bursts of exercise not only allows me to achieve my desired results, but often extends the benefits of exercise. The reason for this is that exercise snacking makes fitness mentality more pervasive by breaking up sedentary moments with movements that are accessible (i.e. quick bursts of cardio, and/or short and intense sets of resistance and dynamic strength training) throughout the day. Rather than setting aside predetermined time to move and exert myself, I’m constantly moving and using energy. By packing some exercise snacks into our daily lives, we’re conditioning ourselves to embrace a lifestyle of conscious and spontaneous movement.

Both deloading and exercise snacking are acts of self-preservation and care that can help sustain our bodies and minds in a functional manner. Being able to adapt to life’s changes, and know when to pace and recoup is essential for us to keep on truckin’ down the line.

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Working out away from the home gym is not at all difficult. If there are no traditional pull up or dip bars around, the playground is the best place to go to for a full body calisthenics workout. When I go to playgrounds to exercise, I arrive either early in the morning or later in the evening (i.e. dusk). Those are times of the day when I typically have the playground to myself. If any children and families come by, I stop and return later when it’s empty.

Playgrounds have amazing equipment like the Hold N Spin (shown in the video below) that test your grip and shoulder strength, work your core, while providing you with ample amounts of thrilling fun.

I’ve written extensively on the benefits of a playful fitness mindset, where nearly everything and everywhere in the surrounding environment can be utilized as a workout. In “Workout of the Week: Child’s Play” I provide an example of one of the workouts I do at a playground that has numerous climbing and swinging apparatus. In “Playcation” I describe how letting go of rigid fitness routines open us up to a wider range of possibilities for building strength and emotional wellness.

I focus a lot on play because one of my main fitness philosophies is that hard work should also be fun. I personally see the gym is a playground for adults, and having this perspective is the biggest motivator for to get a session in. Play is nourishing for the entire body, it can build incredible emotional and physical fortitude. Not only is it strenuous work that amplifies our capacity to take on physical feats, it also heightens nearly every cognitive element of our consciousness.

Through play, we take risks that help us gain confidence, while strengthening physical coordination and critical problem solving techniques. For me, exercise as play is a crucial biological process, because it provides a foundation for exploration, adaptability and a means to get in touch with the environment around me in very distinct ways.

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Happy Halloween to all you fitness monsters out there!

Folks often ask me how they can develop and then retain the motivation to exercise. They’ll mention that working out feels daunting and even scary, and therefore tend to avoid it; or start but then promptly stop or approach it too sporadically to see a difference. This is completely understandable, working out is intimidating!

In the spirit of Halloween, I’m here to proclaim that there are both tricks and treats to conjuring up the motivation to exercise!

What I mention to my clients and potential clients, is to simply go into a fitness program with an open mind and give yourself ample amounts of grace as you go along the way. Keep telling yourself that you are worthwhile, and absolutely capable of showing up and doing the work. Giving yourself proper acknowledgement for doing something hard or uncomfortable is essential. This is especially crucial during moments when you’re completely stifled or intimidated.

I’ve been there too with regards to feeling blasé and unmotivated; but the endorphins I get from exercise are so beneficial to my mental health that I know it’s always the right thing to do. After a workout, it always feels like I’ve treated myself to a session of pampering and self-care.

So in a manner of tough love, I say just do it! Don’t think too much about what you have at hand. Just start and go with the process. Don’t overthink it.

If you’re looking for a particularly apt workout that’ll test your mettle on this All Hallows’ Eve, I’ve conjured up a circuit that’ll have you exercising the demons and feeling all powerful! The devil’s in the details below.

Repeat x6:
6 to 12 dumbbell devils press (demo)

Repeat x6:
10 to 12 dumbbell bent over rows (demo)

Repeat x6:
10 kettlebell swings + 10 kettlebell swing squats (see video below)

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Taking inspiration from Tsatsouline’s kettlebell training wisdom, I’ve devised a time efficient workout that builds full-body strength and endurance. This workout requires mastery of kettlebell movements already, so if you’re a beginner, you’ll need to learn and obtain a competency of the basic moves before trying these exercises (note: I am offering some consultation and 1-1 virtual kettlebell training).

The routine consists of three key kettlebell movements: the swing, the snatch and the windmill. Each of these movements has a specific total body function. Swings are excellent for cardio and muscular endurance (especially for working the posterior chain). Snatches provide explosive power and strength training. And windmills are utilized for loaded mobility and rotational strength. Combined, this trifecta of exercises offer a balance of muscle building, cardiovascular endurance, joint hygiene and metabolic conditioning benefits.

The workout begins with ten single arm kettlebell swings, immediately followed by one snatch, which then transitions into one windmill. Without resting or dropping the bell, swing it over to the opposite arm and repeat the sequence, then take a little rest.

You can format this workout using a time-based or set-specific metric. If you do this for time, set the timer for twenty minutes and see how many reps you can muster before the clock runs out. If you do it for sets, I suggest working somewhere between ten and twenty sets. A set is counted after the combo is repeated with both arms.

Below is a video of me demonstrating the routine. I’m using a fifty-three pound kettlebell. Use a weight that’s comfortable for you and that will allow you execute the movements fluidly with good form, while still posing a challenge resistance and endurance-wise.

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Last Sunday, just as we were about to sit down to eat dinner, we heard the sound of rushing water. My wife and I exchanged quizzical glances for a split second, before a gushing stream began to spout out continually through the kitchen wall!

We were able to get the water to the house turned off in a timely manner, but the damage was done. The basement was flooded with several inches of water, which had also completely soaked through several walls and ceilings. It was a stressful and downright scary endeavor, involving several people coming to the house, which spurred on a wave of intrusive thoughts and OCD related behavior.

On Monday, the plumber came early to fix the broken pipe. On Tuesday, a remediation team knocked down the water damaged walls and installed fans to dry everything out. Despite my anxious thoughts and rituals, things went as well as they possibly could have gone in this situation.

Before all this mishigas, my week was shaping up nicely. My wife and I celebrated our ten year anniversary the Friday before the flood; and I had several exciting professional plans and meetings lined up. One of which was an Instagram live session on Tuesday with a fellow fitness coach and artist. I had met Coach Bailey B. of Worker Bee Fitness through a Covid conscious advocacy group called Mask Together America. There are quite a few athletes, artists, dancers and bodybuilders in the group, which has been a nice support system for navigating life in an ongoing pandemic that most of society and our elected officials have decided to give up on.

Of course there were technical difficulties. We could not get Instagram live to work. In fact, the option had completely vanished from coach Bailey’s app, and mine kept freezing and kicking us off! What else could be expected in a week full of unexpected circumstances? It felt like par for the course. We ended up shifting to Zoom, which meant it didn’t get streamed live, but we do have our conversation archived and available for y’all to replay.

It was a really motivational discussion. I’m a newbie in the industry of remote training and Bailey gave really encouraging advice and experience that I’m eager to incorporate into my practice. Additionally, it gave us an opportunity to discuss a topic that I think both our clients and community could benefit from, which is the use of kettlebells.

Kettlebells are essential for at-home gyms and remote fitness. They are perhaps, pound-for-pound, the most versatile piece of equipment you could acquire and use for building muscle, burning fat and developing potent cardiovascular and muscular endurance. I take my kettlebells with me in my car when I go on a road trip, or to the local fitness park (or even the beach) to train. They are far more portable than dumbbells or barbells and you can perform nearly any type of workout with them.

Below is our discussion on the advantages of kettlebells for the home athlete.

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The first major zeitgeist of modern bodybuilding as a cultural movement is known as the Bronze Age (c.1800s-1930). The epoch’s biggest personality was Eugen Sandow, who conceived of a concept called the “Grecian Ideal”; wherein bodybuilders would survey Greco-Roman sculpture and through strength training, sculpt their bodies to meet the exact proportions of these works of art.

Sandow’s physique was renowned throughout North American and European popular culture, and he made a living by touring his “muscle display performances.” These events differed from prior bodybuilding performances, because rather than perform feats of strength (i.e. lifting objects and people), Sandow would grace the stage and flex his muscles, oftentimes echoing the poses of the exact same sculptures he modeled himself after. These performances, along with his development of the world’s first major bodybuilding competition at London’s Royal Albert Hall (1901) are considered to be an influence on today’s Mr. and Ms. Olympia competitions.

Sandow’s successor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most storied Mr. Olympia competitors. Schwarzenegger rose to fame as the leading figure of the Golden Age of bodybuilding, and has arguably been the most known and influential individual within the movement. Schwarzenegger has had his physical appearances metaphorically referenced as looking like a “Greek god.” His aesthetically divine form has led to his being cast as a Greek god on more than one occasion.

Many people are familiar with Arnold’s blockbuster action films, but fewer folks might recall a 1970 B-movie called Hercules in New York, which was his foray into acting. He played the role of Hercules in the comedic action film, which was set and filmed in New York City on a $300,000 budget. Because of his long and foreign last name, Schwarzenegger was initially credited in his early pictures as “Arnold Strong.”

Hercules in New York is not a great film, nor was it a commercial success (it’s still worth watching in my opinion). But his third film Stay Hungry (1976), where he played the role of Joe Santo, an Austrian bodybuilder which is not dissimilar to his own persona. That performance earned him a Golden Globe for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture, despite having actually appeared in two prior films. His biggest break arrived a year later in 1977 through starring in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron. After that, he was truly on the fast track to becoming a motion picture icon.

In addition to his work in film, Schwarzenegger’s connection to visual arts is quite notable. The Whitney Museum of Art in New York, is an unlikely venue for an expose on bodybuilding; but on February 25, 1976, Arnold and two of his Mr. Olympia colleagues (Frank Zane and Ed Corney) exhibited their muscles for a mélange of art scene and fitness world practitioners and aficionados. Like living sculpture, they stood on revolving pedestals striking and holding poses. In attendance was pop-artist Andy Warhol, who was inspired by what he saw.

Following the event at the Whitney, Arnold became a frequent guest at Warhol’s art studio, known as the Factory; where he was a muse for Warhol’s multimedia art practice. The creative companionship resulted in some intimate and playful portraits that are part of Warhol’s Polaroid series.

When Arnold relocated to Hollywood to pursue his acting career, they remained in contact. When Schwarzenegger returned to the east coast to marry Maria Shriver; Warhol who typically traveled with his camera in tow, made a shocking late entrance and was a de facto wedding photographer.

The revolving faction of frequent notable guests and visitors to the Factory must have been a portrait painter’s dream. In fact, it was the scene for a fruitful meeting between Arnold and artist Jamie Wyeth, a prolific realist painter from a generational line of well known American artists (he’s the son of Andrew Wyeth, nephew of Carolyn Wyeth and grandson of N.C. Wyeth).

In 1977, Wyeth created two charcoal drawings on cardboard and an oil painting on canvas of Schwarzenegger at Warhol’s Factory studio, which he was renting out a small partition to use as his own studio. Wyeth was commissioned to paint the bodybuilder for the cover of Newsweek magazine.

Wyeth’s portrait of Arnold flexing his biceps in profile, has a dramatic and emotionally sublime sensibility. His use of saturated shadows to modulate the illusion of volume and mass highlights Schwarzenegger’s intricate muscularity. Unlike photographs of bodybuilders, which often depict them as shiny, oiled up and hard bodied; Wyeth’s rendering of Arnold’s muscular physique portrays a softer, more subdued and contemplative persona, while still expressing his corporeal prowess.

The painting didn’t end up making the cover of Newsweek, but it was exhibited that same year at Coe Kerr Gallery in New York City; and decades later in 2014, alongside Wyeth’s portrait of Andy Warhol at the Boston Museum of Fine Art.

Other artists that depicted Schwarzenegger’s physique as the subject of their art, include photographers Annie Leibovitz and Robert Mapplethorpe. Leibovitz’s photographs were taken in 1975, on assignment for Rolling Stone magazine, during the making of Pumping Iron. They include some very fun, recreational scenes of Schwarzenegger at leisure. One of the compositions includes Arnold sitting on a horse. The muscular contours of both the horse and the human bodybuilder are practically aligned, making the adage “healthy as a horse” explicitly visual.

In Mapplethorpe’s oeuvre, the male body is hypersexualized and confronts the viewer with subjects of eroticism, desire and sexual identity that were taboo topics for the entirety of his lifetime. Mapplethorpe’s visionary artistry shines through in the juxtaposition of erotic framing and the high quality of his compositions. Schwarzenegger and other bodybuilders fit well within the realm of Mapplethorpe’s aesthetic formalism, as well as his conceptual reinterpretation of Greco-Roman body worship; which is a ecstatic and ritualistic idealization of the human form through art, athletics and spiritual rites. This is perhaps why his photographs of Schwarzenegger resemble physical qualities of Greco-Roman sculpture. Mapplethorpe has stated, “I’m trying to make sculpture without having to sculpt. “I’m trying to get the head in just the right spot where everything looks perfect. I’m looking for perfection in form… It’s no different from one subject to the next.”

A similar ethos can be ascribed to the practice of bodybuilding, where the “Grecian Ideal” has influenced how bodybuilders train and sculpt their bodies to accurately reflect the heroic and powerful forms depicted in the sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome. Therefore, it can be said that Arnold’s connection to the fine arts spans from antiquity to the present day.

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Artfully Exercising is a reader-supported publication about art and fitness. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber:

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Documenting my physical and mental health journey in the form of Artfully Exercising has been a labor of love, which takes a lot of (well spent) time, energy and resources to write the content you receive in your email boxes. If my writing has given you any sort of inspiration and enrichment, please consider making a contribution by becoming a paid subscriber or making a one time contribution.

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Let’s continue the conversation 💬

If what I’ve written resonates with you, and/or you want to share your thoughts, please leave me a comment! One of the most rewarding things about writing is getting feedback and making connections with others!