Boot Camp?

This morning I went for a 2.5 mile fast walk with a friend.  We try to meet at least once a week. In the winter we are two of few exercisers, but come spring and summer the park is alive with runners, walkers, jogging mommies, and the newest addition, Boot Camp.

It is inspiring to watch a group of women exercise outdoors…until the leader starts barking commands at them. “Get into full plank.  Hold it!  Yeah, it hurts.  Hold it. Now low jacks!  20 of ‘em.  FASTER!”  I get it.  The women in the group are paying for a Jillian Michaels-esque workout experience.  They look pretty good.  However, no one is smiling. They all looked exercise obsessed.  I am sure they look fantastic in bikinis and have tight, high butts, but those frown lines!

I have been an exercise instructor many times in my life.  In the 70s/80s I taught high impact aerobics.  There was music, lots of reps, lots of sweat, and people smiled in class.  They groaned, but they were happy to be there!  Twenty years later when I taught Step and Pilates, I had loyal followers who came for the tough workout and the fun. It was enough to want to exercise and have a positive instructor – and we were all really fit! It was a gentler time, apparently.  I guess now you have to get yelled at to get the flab off?

I’m not buying it.  I guarantee you that if I were on The Biggest Loser and one of the instructors started yelling at me I would walk away or just start screaming back at them.  I’m not a wimp, but I just don’t respond to abusive behavior as motivation.

So what’s going to be my physical fitness goal?  Well, at this time in my life, I’d like to feel really good in my body.  I like hopping on my bicycle to go somewhere. Lately I have ridden to do bits of grocery shopping, run errands, and go downtown.  Hiking seems like it might be fun again.  I like walking and do lots of it. However, I’d like to do more. (In Greece. To see ancient ruins. Hint, hint, Husband.) I’d like to restart my yoga practice with a body that will move flexibly.  I really want to get back into Pilates.  I want to dance for hours like I used to in the 80s.  Mostly, I want to feel like whatever I want to do I can do.  There’s that CAN again!