The Work Out

I’ve joined a gym. Again. I did it in December so that I wouldn’t feel like ALL the other people who start in January. I thought maybe it would put me ahead of the game. Well, it’s March and I’m still going! It’s exciting. Now, I’m not going to lie and say I am busting a massive sweat every time I go. In fact three times a week I am taking a class called “Surrender,” which is just as amazing as it sounds. It’s a yoga class where the instructor gets you into a pose and makes you stay there for about 4 minutes. This is not always easy, but it’s doing wonders for my neck and shoulders so I’m all in. So long physical therapy and dry needling! I’m all about Surrendering.

BUT, I can’t just Surrender. At least that’s what my family, and, I guess, doctors, say. I have to do the whole cardio and weight thing, too, if I want longevity and good health. Fine. So, I take more classes and try to do other stuff on my own. Which leads me to GTX. It’s a great class at my gym that requires pace intervals on the treadmill for about 30 minutes, and weights on the floor for an equal amount of time.

I LOVE the treadmill part. I used to enjoy running (a little) before I broke both of my feet, so I am enjoying my power walking intervals and playing with the inclines. It’s like a little game and I smile at the instructor, give goofy thumbs up, and all is well. Then I head to the floor for the weight portion of the class.

I do not love this part. The instructor shows me the proper form, and I inevitably find her standing over me fixing just about every single thing I am doing. I’m a quick learner, but it doesn’t seem to translate when I have dumbbells in my hands. I also don’t want to be the only person using the tiniest weights, so I tend to get my self into situations. This week I overdid it. It has been two days and I’m so sore I’m walking around with my arms slightly bowed out because it hurts to much to simply lay them by my sides. Arms, shoulders, chest, ribs, abs, side muscles, muscles I didn’t even know I had. They all are equally sore to the touch and any time I move.

I had the same instructor from GTX for my Surrender class today. She greeted me warmly and I grimaced out a smile. I then realized I was too sore to Surrender properly. Cue the internal scream. Next thing I know, she was standing over me trying to help me relax in the same way she is always correcting me with the weights. Sigh. She patted me on the shoulder and said, “It will get easier.” I guess I need to keep going to the gym, then. Apparently I need to learn how to work out…and how to relax.