I’ve joined a Gym
I’ve joined a Gym; Not a fancy pants gym, no coffee bar, sofa, TV, swimming pool, sauna or social activities it’s just an inexpensive weights gym with one studio for classes. But why have I done this and why has it taken me so long after moving 3 years ago and relinquishing my last gym membership to get my act together?
Well, I lost my gym confidence saying it makes me feel stupid but it’s true and you may relate to it.
I thought I could exercise alone and to a point I can and became quite comfortable doing it, but that darn thing called age has shown me that if I want to remain supple and active, I must put a more effort in and the ‘more’ bit wasn’t happening.
I have no intention on running a marathon or entering a body building competition but frightened to death of becoming immobile by my own hand and feel it’s my duty to look after the vessel I’ve been given.
Humans are naturally competitive this default action goes back to our evolution where humans and animals had to compete for a limited number of resources such as food, shelter and mating partners. Although we’ve happily developed since then this streek is in us and used wisely can enhance our lives. People need people we are not loaners, but we do get scared and fearful and loose our confidence you only have to look at Lockdown and see the emotional devastation that caused people living alone. I truly had got it into my head I’d be the oldest, most unfit person in the room, look totally out of place and an embarrassment. We also don’t like being embarrassed and because of the worms in my head I kept away until one day I put my own foot up my backside and went on a trial. I booked into a Pilates class knowing that putting a date and time in my diary was a positive move, as they say in the US I’m a diariser.
On my way I walked around the outside of the gym I could see throught the window people inside boxing, pushing weights, sweating on bikes, running and machines, gulp, I looked at my reflection – Ouch!
On entering the studio, I was greeted by Margaret, a decade older than myself rolling out her matt telling me “They’re rather thin you’ll need two and welcome along” Over the next few minutes others arrived all ages all sizes. I loved the class and after, with renewed confidence, popped up to the weights where a chap said to me ‘If there’s anything you don’t understand let me know” I wanted to say yes “My mind” but that’s far more complicated than the resistance level on a Lat Pulldown Machine.
I’m now fully committed to project ‘do more with people’ together with all the other ways of keeping fit regular readers will hear me bang on about which involves chin up, shoulders back, ribcage up, engage core and walk with conviction.
Article originally from My Weekly!