Burn Those Muscles Jane

I am so sore that I can barely move my arms to type these words and I have put off going to the restroom for fear of having to maintain a squat position. Our neighborhood club recently underwent a renovation of the fitness room and the pool area. It added a group exercise room, which was ready for use in November. In October, the athletic director sent out an email asking members if they wanted to sign up for group exercise classes at a promotional rate of $50 for unlimited classes for November and December. I decided to go for it.

Then the class listing was published and there were only two classes a week on the November schedule that would allow me to do everything else I have to do, such as work, make dinner, supervise homework, and get kids to school. One was spinning and one was yoga – I don’t do either due to my fear of bicycles and bare feet respectively. (I once took a pregnancy yoga class and had to leave in the middle of class when the instructor came over to check on me during the relaxing breathing exercise and I looked down at her feet and was inches away from spread out toes on a foot that looked like a crow’s claw).

I emailed the director and told her this just really wasn’t going to work with my schedule and asked for a refund. The response – No, but she would throw in January for “free” and promised there would be more offerings at various times. This led to me feeling guilty for all of November and December during which I did not attend a single class.

So here we are in January. I ate myself silly over the holidays and figured I should now try out the classes. Skip’s been taking himself to the workout room, and I certainly don’t want to be outdone by my husband, who hasn't had to pay anything extra to use the treadmilss and weights. So this morning I got up 15 minutes earlier than usual, woke up Homer, made him breakfast and a lunch and hauled myself to the CIT class. I have no idea what the acronym stands for, but it was a little something of everything – step aerobics at the beginning, I hadn’t done that since college, then lunges with weights, kickboxing, arm exercises, leg exercises and some great ab work.

It was exhilarating and I am really feeling it – and if for one reason or another I don’t make it back to another class, I will remember this morning as the best $50 workout money can buy!