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Tuesday, 02 December 2008

Exercise Class Anyone?

By Claire Jean

Since lacking the discipline to exercise on my own at home, I sign up for classes at the local Y, pay and then know I’ll get my money’s worth.

However, working ten months full-time limits my scheduling options. For two months out of the year, I’m able to look over the class schedule and be as choosy as I like for selecting times, instructors, etc. Also, the people who make up the day classes, most times, are fun to be with. Restorative Yoga was one such fun class.

It was unusually small, the benefits unusually large. Rumor had it that the class size was due to not being challenging enough. It was just too easy. Not for me, I can assure you. We were encouraged to engage in selected traditional yoga poses and remain in place (depending on the pose) from roughly three to sometimes ten minutes. Props, when needed, were incorporated. The class age range was approximately mid-30s to mid-60s, and a woman I’ll refer to as Ellie said she was 87.

Ellie, as you might imagine, was not a novice. As I put down my mat that first class, I came to understand in a rather persuasive manner from Ellie that I was occupying her preferred space on the floor.

As time went on, I learned that Ellie and I enjoyed practicing our routines alongside of Sue. Sue, at 65, was able to command her body very well and, more importantly, accurately. Once we had established the wheres and whys of our placements on the floor, things went along smoothly. Ellie situated on one side, and I on the other side of Sue. Not only did Sue not mind the quick peeks to correct or be certain of a pose, she seemed to enjoy our admiring glances. And that they were.

When it was time to bid my farewell, we all said we would be looking forward to when I could, once again, rejoin the group. That would have been okay ten or twenty years ago. But waiting so many months now is somehow not as reassuring as it once was.

I’m presently taking a 6:00AM class during the week and an 8:00AM Saturday class both with an excellent instructor, Millie. Realizing my reluctance to participate in the before/after work/weekend classes, Millie assured me that I could do her classes and reiterated how important it was to keep exercising at every age.

I don’t take pleasure in the looks or comments I hear in the 8:00AM Saturday class however well, or, not so well, intended. It troubles me that it troubles me! I’ve even stooped to the point of putting on a bit of makeup beforehand (as if that matters anymore). It makes me angry (at myself) just writing this now. Next week — NO makeup!

Some of the comments that have come my way - wow, you’re good, you can do them all, good for you, you must be so strong, etc. In a New York Times article, Ms. Kirschman, 68, stated that she does not want to be recognized for her age. To avoid stereotyping, Ms. Kirschman often sprinkles her conversation with profanities when she is among people who do not know her. “A little sharpness seems to help,” she said.

If not able carry out her proposal, I’ll certainly keep it in mind. Stereotyping does not happen in the 6:00AM class. It’s a much smaller group and perhaps the people are still trying to wake up.

Although I was absolutely astonished at what Ellie, 87, was doing in the Restorative Yoga class, I did not make comments or remarks. I just liked that she was there and, after a very short time, was glad to know the person.

[EDITORIAL NOTE: All elders, 50 and older, are welcome to submit stories for this blog. Instructions are here.]

Posted by Ronni Bennett at 05:30 AM | Permalink | Email this post

Comments

Posted by: Sandy on Dec 2, 2008 11:56:48 AM

Posted by: Dorothy Stahlnecker on Dec 4, 2008 7:24:27 PM

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