I have always thought of a gym as somewhere that I want to be inspired.
Somewhere where I look at a goal and think to myself “I would like to achieve that or be that way”
I mean it takes a lot of energy to go to a gym. To pack up your stuff on a snowy blistery day and motivate yourself early on in the morning to start jumping, running and lifting heavy things. I think you should at least have some type of visual reward for your efforts don’t you?
So recently I changed the way I do gyms. I tried joining one gym that offered the type of class that works for my back and neck ongoing pain issues at times that work for me, but that did not seem to work out well. There always seemed to be something at works that made me miss the scheduled class and I could not always commit to the weekly class.
So a few weeks ago I changed up the routine and cut a deal with a couple of gyms of a unique “pay as you go” format. This way the class I want to take which is always offered at 9am and not earlier (guess it’s normally for people who don’t work aka in older people but I am limited in what I can do with my back..sigh). Now instead of just having the option of 1 day a week to take it ,I can take it one of three days at a choice of two different gyms-gives me more flexibility.
So all this to say I went to these classes a couple of times now at both gyms and although the classes are great and perfect for me something really odd struck me.
Why is the person giving this class not really very inspiring?
At the risk of sounding politically incorrect: Why were they both overweight, out of shape and not at all what I am going to these classes for?
Isn’t this odd? On two counts too?
The first was a woman who was much older than I would have thought to be giving a class at a gym (I mean I know that the class is adapted to pain issues but many of us are in very good shape and fit and between 30-40). This woman although extremely sweet and personable had no clue how to dance! And there she was in the middle of the room, stoic, robotic and dancing a little bit like a scarecrow if I needed to describe it. Smiling away and adorable.
Well I thought to myself…..that was nice of them to give her a job here. I guess she is a substitute or something. No she is not-a friend of mine had her the next week for her class and wrote me a text at the break also freaking out a bit.
Next class different gym another type of class entirely. The woman teaching it was also not fit at all. She professed that this class was amazing and incredible and changed her life so that now she is certified herself. Her belly was huge! And no she was not pregnant! How is this supposed to inspire me and want to work out week after week sweating and panting?
There is something here I don’t get? Why would these particular woman be employed as fitness specialists if they are struggling themselves with weight and fitness? I mean don’t get me wrong..lovely ladies and all. Just instructors for fitness classes? Why?
I am not in the least anti-feminist or trying to be mean…I am just a little perplexed I mean isn’t there something to the old model whether you get to look at the gorgeous, skinny blond aerobics instructor while you work out and wish you were them? Or even if she is not skinny or thin get to envy how fit and toned she is and how energetic? What happened to those instructors from the good old days (now I sound really old!!)
Anyways despite these confused and perplexed feelings, I somehow love both classes so they must be doing something right. I always try to take something positive away from any situation and I guess the morale of this story for me is that as of 40 yrs. old you don’t do exercise to look better really (sad but true) but more to maintain what you already have (better like that) or to feel better or both.
Exercise after 40 just isn’t what it was when you are 20 yrs. It’s more for the spirit and the soul I guess. Or making friends with the teacher since they don’t scare or intimidate you at all.
I look at these teachers and think to myself” Wow if they give 7 classes a week and this is their result not sure mine will be life alternating with 1-2 classes-but it still makes me feel good and feel better and my back certainly needs it. Our reasons to exercise may change as we get older just like a lot of other things we do.
So as I attend my classes, gone is the envy and inspiration and motivation of coveting the body of the woman teaching the class and more is the sentiment of……we are all in this together.
Really good part is I feel actually incredibly toned and young if I compare myself to the instructors! I have not felt as pretty and fit at a gym since before having my kids.
Anyways just wanted to share as I found this experience..just really odd. It’s one of those things that happens that if you have a blog you write about it to sort out your feelings. Odd.
