ABSTRACT
An informal survey of a few dozen colleagues, each of whom has been practising psychoanalysis from 30 to 60 hours a week for decades, has provided me with the following information. One of them exercises by walking up the stairs of his apartment building while talking on his cell phone; another does 90 second wall-sits while reciting Shakespeare; several walk each day or play occasional games of tennis, while most of the rest engage in some more directed physical activity like going to the gym, running, or working out at home. The women analysts seem to be more gregarious and more sensible about exercise than the men, some of whom are either maniacal or else totally neglectful. One or two do nothing that could be even faintly construed as exercise. This seems surprising in a profession where remaining seated for long hours at a stretch, often under severe emotional tension, is the rule.
