I am not by nature a “work out” kind of
person, although I was pretty active as a child. I hiked around the foothills with my brother
and the other boys, and loved to scale the steep hillsides where the firebreaks
had been cut. And I was a bit of a
monkey, always climbing high in trees or clinging to ledges. Very much a daredevil, I was proud of the
label tomboy (before it was un-PC.) I
loved active, dirty outdoor play. I
played foursquare, dodge ball (before it was banned) and jump rope at
recess. When it came time for team
sports I played volleyball and basketball through eighth grade, but in high
school things changed. I spent hours by
the pool, but my participation veered toward a less active role. I moved from hours of diving (before diving
boards were banned in home pools) and games of Marco Polo, to spending most of
my time working on my tan with Baby Oil (before sun exposure was exposed!)
High
School brought cheerleading in to my life, but this was a mixed blessing. I loved the cute uniforms and the school
spirit part, and especially the boy’s school where I was thrilled to be chosen
for the squad. The choreography was my
worst nightmare. Not having been a dance girl, it was painful to learn the moves,
link them together and be in sync with the other girls. I learned my tryout routine from a “public”
school friend who had been a cheerleader for her junior high. I thought she was so worldly
because not only had she gone to a school with only 7th and 8th graders, she had “made” cheerleader at a very big school. I was in good hands and fortunately she was patient, because it took me days to learn a short, simple routine. Thank God this was before cheerleaders had to do complex dance moves, and way before they had to perform like Las Vegas show girls!
because not only had she gone to a school with only 7th and 8th graders, she had “made” cheerleader at a very big school. I was in good hands and fortunately she was patient, because it took me days to learn a short, simple routine. Thank God this was before cheerleaders had to do complex dance moves, and way before they had to perform like Las Vegas show girls!
At
this stage I also had an extended flirtation with beach volleyball and surfing. Being a teenager in Southern California
during the age of Gidget and Beach Party movies, I fancied myself a surfer girl. I tanned my skin, lightened my hair, bought a
two-piece (pre-bikini kind of like a fancy bra and panties set) and a
surfboard. I could body surf so I
thought it couldn’t be much harder to ride a board. I became somewhat proficient and loved every
minute of floating out in the ocean waiting for waves. It was quiet and calming – meditative -
before I knew what that word really meant.
I could catch waves, probably because I was a decent body surfer, but
standing up was challenging and I never was very good at it. Most of my
exercise came from hauling the board – they were heavy back then – paddling
out, and retrieving it when it washed into shore. I loved the whole warming up in the sand when
you were wet, having the salt dry on your skin as the sun went down, and
basically, hanging out all day with cute guys while wearing eye catching
attire!
As
I admitted at the get go, I am not, and never was, someone drawn to rigorous
exercise in the pursuit of a skill, a win or a fitness goal. I’ve always been a hard worker around the
house and yard with lots of DIY projects that involved hauling, digging and
power tools. This had the dual purpose
of creating things I envisioned and keeping me fit. When I was in my thirties some of the other
moms took up “jogging,” and although I gave it a try, I quickly downgraded to
walking. I walked with a friend because
I needed the entertainment of talking to someone to keep me from turning around
and going back home. When I was in my forties our son came to us as a baby, and I realized that I would
be an “older” mother. I had a good
reason to up the ante, and started actually going to the health club that my
husband (Mr. Work Out) and I had joined years before. This is when I discovered that if I went to a
group fitness class, I was more likely to exert myself. Left to my own devices, I just wandered
around the gym from area to area, never really getting any momentum. As a matter of fact, it takes a room full of
people, a closed door, music, and an instructor to get my mind engaged, and
stop fantasizing about walking out. Every
once in awhile there is a change in instructors, which means learning different
moves and styles. Then I have to learn some new tricks. When I first started
taking classes I considered it quite an accomplishment when I mastered the
“grapevine” and was going to the right or left at the same time as the rest of
the class.
Now,
over the last twenty years I have been committed to my weekly classes, usually
3-4 times a week. When I’m out of town
or sick for several weeks and don’t work out, I can see what happens to my shape
and my fitness. My clothes start to get
tight and my energy and endurance sag.
I’ve realized that if I stopped exercising I would lose much of my
flexibility, strength, balance, and endurance – more so with each passing year.
I am lucky to have an added incentive
for showing up at my regular classes - getting together with the close friends
I have made at my gym. Several years ago
Pasadena Athletic Club, our original health club, closed and five or six of us
made our way to a newly opened gym, Breakthru Fitness. We were drawn to it because of the powerful
combination of topnotch facilities, incredible owners, instructors and staff, a
full and varied schedule of classes, and the overall friendly and personal
ambiance.
My
schedule is so set that all appointments – doctors, dentists, hair cuts,
plumbers and on down the line – are arranged by my workout time. I used to be glued to classes that started at
8 or 8:30 so I could drop my son off at school and go straight to a class. When he started to drive my schedule could
change, but I still aimed for an early class, as did my friends. We all agree that a good, enjoyable
instructor is our priority and have even changed times to suit this goal. Over the years we have “lost” several of our
favorites. We never thought anyone could
beat Betsy, but when Betsy moved to Colorado, we fell in love with Erin. When Erin moved to Minnesota, everyone felt
like no one could replace her. After a
few days with substitutes in our time slot we started with Meredith. Her music was different, “Did we like
it. Will we get a rhythm with this new
girl with different moves?” Here we are,
a few years later, mourning Meredith leaving as our Monday and Wednesday
cheerleader. Because that is what she
has become. We leave her class after a vigorous workout, and good stretch with
an upbeat rhythm in our steps.
Once
again we have to modify our work out with a new instructor. As we gather after class at the coffee shop
downstairs for a chat, we ponder the same questions. “Will we like the new instructor, their music
and energy?” This is were the element of
routine is so helpful. It’s kind of
automatic on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and some Tuesdays for me to plan my day
around a morning workout, and at least one or two of my friends will
be there, because seeing each other is a
priority. Linda has raised the bar on
this commitment. She hasn’t been taking
class lately for various reasons, but she never fails to meet us after class
for tea.
My
gym may change, my instructors may change, my health may change, but I know
that I can learn new tricks no matter how old I am or what modifications I have
to make. I am actually much better at learning new routines than I ever was as a cheerleader, and there is great satisfaction in that.
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| Loa's class has been a constant in keeping me strong and flexible for many years |
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