Work It Out Women's Fitness is on the summer schedule now, so classes have thinned out a bit as the days grow sunny and warm, and people spend more time outdoors.
I am still going to the gym 6 times a week, though I can't do as many double classes as I used to.
However, now that our car has broken down again, I am having to walk to WIO and to the grocery store more often, which allows me more exercise to make up for the classes I am missing.
In other work out news, Aggie, a dear gal whom I've really come to enjoy getting to know, is taking over the salsa class from Carolina, who is moving to Virginia on the East Coast in August. Carolina has been such a delightful teacher, her good humor and kindness were always appreciated as I bumbled and stumbled my way through the steps necessary to complete her class. She always tried to find time to do Passo Doble bullfighting dance steps at the end of class because she knew I liked them (they were more straightforward and easier to learn than many of the other steps). She always smelled of gardenias when she sweated in class, and was always a good instructor who had endless patience with her uncoordinated students. She will be missed.
I've been without Pentasa (due to Shire pharmaceuticals not allowing those with Crohns to have the medication because of a ridiculous FDA regulation that says it is not approved for the treatment of Crohns, never mind that millions have been on Pentasa for years for that very disease) for over a week now, and because I've been having flares, I've been sleeping with my heating pad against my belly to help sooth the cramps and pain. Apparently, the pain medications I also have to take for the cramps dulled my pain receptors enough that when I woke up Friday morning I had blisters on my belly from the heating pad, and the burns hadn't even woken me up!
Billie is teaching balls and weights and kickboxing and she subbed for salsa last night, which was loads of fun. Billie has the ability to be a great aerobics and strength training teacher while still infusing her classes with fun and a playful, joyous attitude. Her classes are non-stop movement and I always learn something new from Billie, who is very knowledgable about fitness. She is working hard teaching, being a mom and going to UW to get her masters degree in occupational therapy. I admire her stamina!
Rochelle is still teaching a couple of classes, and is due to have her baby in a few short weeks! I can't wait to see that adorable bundle of joy! Is there anything better than the smell of a brand new baby's head? I don't think so!
Suzanne is teaching Pilates and balls and weights, I think, and she's also a great joy to learn from. Suzanne is just so lovely, kind and compassionate, I feel as if her Pilates classes have a zen-like element to them, so you come away not only having worked your core, you've calmed and centered your spirit, giving your 'inner core' strength for the road ahead. She's also a very upbeat, uplifting person who doesn't believe in the word "can't." When you're on your 15th rep with a weight that you feel like you're going to drop on your head, Suzanne is always there to say "Yes, you can do 5 more!"
Connie is on vacation in the midwest, but she's been teaching a rockin' kickboxing class that has been moved to 8:30 am on Thursdays, and therefore hasn't been accessible to me. I was taking her Friday morning 9:30 kickboxing, but now there's a balls and weights on Fridays instead.
Janice and Carol are in the midst of boot camp season, so unfortunately I don't get to see their beautiful faces as often as I'd like. They've been doing a lot of one-on-one personal training as well, and it is so inspiring to watch the women they train transform their bodies from overweight and weary to svelte and energized! Janice's figure and fitness training also continues, and I really admire the dedication of all the women on her team. They work out for 15-20 hours a week and eat a very strict diet, and they look fabulous!
Also coming up is the WIO Triathalon on July 24th at Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley. I volunteer every year, and I always have a blast helping the athletes get from one aspect of the triathalon to the other--they always amaze and inspire me! The kids triathalon is super fun to watch, as these little tykes just give it their all. Though I have to get up at 5 am on that Saturday, it is always worth it to see friends from WIO challenge themselves to make it through.
Someday, when I am not quite so upholstered in the belly, I think I will give the triathalon a try, just to see if I can make it across Lake Wilderness without getting bitten by leeches or having a cardiac. At the end of this year, I will have been working out at WIO for 4 years! Thank you, Carol and Janice and the rest of the great staff at WIO for all the help and inspiration they've shown me over the years--you all make my life worth living.
