GYMNASTIC GOINGS ON

I remember when I first joined a gym , back in 1990. Back in those days, gyms were mostly like "Gold's" and the people who went there were largely policemen and firemen.
I wanted so badly to go, but felt that I would be woefully out of place. I was afraid that if I was using a piece of equipment that some jock needed, he would be annoyed with me.
I remember my first time. I must have driven around the block several times, trying to get up the nerve to actually park and go inside.

I did make it inside. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I noticed right away that
most of the real bodybuilders were looking in mirrors, admiring their pecs. They just didn't care if I was there or not. Since that time, I have had a steady membership in gyms, among them the "Y", the Jewish Community Center, the Senior Center, and now Shapes. From time to time I hire a trainer to give me a routine and then tty to stick to that until it becomes old.

I currently belong to an all female gym. It is really interesting to see the variety in the people who come there, the trainers, and in the programs they offer. I see women into their eighties and nineties, doing their best with what they have. Some of them have been coming most of their lives and are in pretty good shape. Women young and old, slim and pudgy,
white, black, asian. Today I saw a muslim woman come in and remove her scarf before changing into workout clothes. Some women are so overweight that you have to admire them for trying to make a change. Some are so thin, you expect them to break something on the lifting equipment.

Some are bent with osteoporosis; some limp with bad knees and hips.
They don't move very fast, but , by gosh, they are moving . There are five or six swim classes at my gym and they are all full. For one hour, they move as instructed and get a very good, full body workout. A good percentage of them are women over 75 and the water makes it possible for them to move fully and positively. They laugh and joke and have a great time . Many of them form groups to go out to breakfast after class.

I am there early, so from my vantage point of the treadmill, I see the working girls leave. They have a good workout, get a shower, blow-dry their hair and set off to work in their professional clothes and high heels, looking very nice indeed!

Some days there is a row of strollers along the outside sidewalk when I leave. That would be the StrollerMoms. They line up the little ones in a row and, having supplied them with crackers and juice, start their workout. All the bouncing and jogging keeps the kids entertained and mom is just a step away! Great idea and fun to watch.

Clothing is interesting. Gone are the outfits that conjure a mental image of Jane Fonda in her sweatband and rolled down socks. We wear what is clean and ready. We wear what is comfortable . No beauty contest.

Since Sarasota is a circus city, we see a number of the aerial artists there. They really work hard, as you might imagine. And, they take the yoga classes for balance, both physical and mental.

I try to do thirty minutes on an aerobic machine, and that can get very boring. Thus I learned some time ago to get large print books out of the library. They are easy to read while bouncing and you can forget about time when you are into a good book.
Others like their ipods. My ipod is filled with talking books, not music. My favorite book on tape is David Sedaris' "Me talk pretty one day." It keeps me laughing and those around me give me weird looks.