PENNY'S WORKOUT WORLD
brings you:
"Don't Let Your Body Get You Down"
"Fitness Rants"
April 4,2008 Issue#35
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
I had a few of those fitness moments last week that made me feel my age.
First, I fell down in my spinning class.
I know, I know. You normally sit safely on the saddle during most classes but in my class, you never can expect normal things to unfold.
Anyway, mid-class, I got off my bike to motivate (!!) a few of my favorite Moms in the back row and somehow,
this is where it gets all blurry as to what exactly made me land on my face, but I know for sure that I didn't fall down athletically.
I fell down like one of those old ladies
they show on America's Funniest Videos,(click here to watch)
which I love,
when they are not me.
I was in a sort of slow motion with a few lurching steps and arms flailing-
actually a workout in itself.
Then,"No, Officer, I wasn't wearing my seat belt."
It turned into
"Can she catch herself?
Can she defy the embarrassment rushing at her from the ground up?"
(sigh)
Sadly, no.
And the most upsetting and least favorite part of this story is that all the Moms I was hoping to inspire,
they almost had motherly heart attacks, knowing I am just a few months post-op from having my hip done (stay with me).
So instead of the fun memories I have of falling down as a teenager -
my favorite of which was when I was holding cymbals in concert band class-
where I stayed on the ground laughing so hard I almost peed my pants.
Instead of this fall being HIGH-larious,
It was just. like. an. old. lady.
Gasps were followed by
"Are you okAAAYYY???!"
followed by palms to the chest followed by "whews!!!" .
Then I got up and checked to be sure my hips were actually in their sockets, just to reassure the Moms.
Then I went back to my bike, leaving my fitness pro persona over there,
in a heap on the floor.
It doesn't really end there.
I went into the next room to teach my next class, a Core Revolution class.
After enjoying some homemade black bean soup for dinner the night before,
my own core had it's own little revolution and this noise came out of my body
(not my mouth) . While I was just sitting there talking! that made me wish I'd fallen down again.
And once again,
no one fell apart laughing.
Although no one looked concerned like they did when I fell (although there was maybe more reason to be concerned)
there was pretty much silence.
Those Moms are so polite.
No one looked at anyone else.
We just kept exercising.
Looking back,
I tried to remember if the sound could've possibly been passed off as maybe my sneaker squeaking,
but my ears have the auditory equivalent of a photographic memory and
mine was a noise no shoe has ever made.
Does this make me less of an athlete?
Does this make me less fit?
No.
(Maybe the real question should be "Does this make you want to skip my class")
But here's the thought that I've had all week and it is that
THINGS CHANGE.
We start to take ourselves and everyone around us, for that matter, so seriously.
If I can just start to chose to laugh when something unexpected happens instead of getting flustered, I'd be a happier athlete and a happier athlete is a more fit athlete, in my workout world.
So that is my fitness advice for this week.
Look for those Bill Cosby moments.
Roll down your window and have a joke with the neighboring driver at the red light.
Wink at the mailman.
And if you happen to see me walking down the street and I fall flat on my face,
don't feel obligated to help me up.
Just laugh loud enough that I can hear you as you drive by.
|
|
 MY NEW BOOK IS ALMOST READY!
FITNESS RANTS
FOR THE
CHRONOLOGICALLY
ENRICHED
I've got so many people,
at least six or seven so far,
wanting an official copy of my rants on the situation
I find myself in
as I fight the uphill battle
to keep active.
Why am I a fitness expert?
Mostly because I proclaimed myself one.
But, let's just say I started out 25 years ago as an overzealous aerobics instructor and suddenly, two and a half decades have passed.
I feel like I'm entitled. It's as simple as that.
I'm here to inspire you with my story,
despite my bunion and hammertoe,
despite my tight hamstrings,
my torn ACL and the fact that I can't remember my next door neighbor's first name occasionally.
Add in my lack of remaining knee cartilage ,
as well as my two artificial hips.
Maybe I should not even mention my
decreased production of collagen
and the resulting wrinkles (only when I smile, unfortunately-why can't they show when I frown?),
also the morning stiffness
and occasional night time insomnia.
Plus my denial about needing reading glasses.
"Waiter, Just bring me the Chicken Ceasar Salad."
How's that for credentials?
So I have compiled a short little book for you
to keep on your bed side table, or perhaps near your treadmill,
to remind yourself that you are not alone
and that the battle is (or will be) worth all of the effort
and to never,
never,
never give up.
No matter how hard your husband laughs at you
when he sees you in your old jog bra.
And also to sometimes recommend the prudency
of an Advil as a precautionary measure
before your first personal trainer session.
You can buy the book here.
Although it won't be shipped for a few weeks
but my one time introductory pre-sale price is low low low
and you should get 'em while they're hot.
Or rather,
before they're hot.
Just go to my website to read more rants
|
|
|
|
REMEMBER,
GOOD HEALTH IS JUST THE SLOWEST WAY TO DIE!
Penny & My Workout World
|
|
|
|
