Confession of a Step Aerobics Drop Out
By: Nancy Howard,
SparkPeople Blogger
3/4/2009 4:46 PM
: 169 comments
People often ask me why I run. Well for one, I have always wanted to experience the challenge of a good run to see where these old legs could take me, but more importantly it didn’t require much coordination on my part. All’s you have to do is lace up your shoes and head out the door. You run so far and head back home.
I can’t tell you how many times when I was stretching at my gym I would gaze in wonder in the glass enclosed studio as the throngs of women and men performed grapevines over and around their steps all set to the beat of some really great music. I mean who wouldn’t love to do that! The camaraderie in the class seemed like so much fun as they high-fived one another after each routine, dripping in sweat while taking swigs of water in between workouts.
Two years ago, at the urging of a dear friend, I put on my cross trainers and headed to studio one. Melissa, the aerobics instructor, was perky as usual and was so kind to introduce the two newbies to the rest of the class. Hey, I was beginning to feel like one of the gang. The 'regulars' were all so eager to show me the equipment while insisting it would be best if I situated myself at the front of the class to have a better view, even though I would have preferred to be in the back.
Before class began, Melissa went over a few movements which seemed fairly easy when done very slowly. Then she added the beat of some really great disco tunes. This was it; I was going to be a step aerobics queen! All of a sudden she started calling out the steps, turns, jumps, etc as I looked like a deer in the headlights. When the class was going right, I was going left when they were making turns I was still going right. And let’s not even talk about doing the grapevine. Funny how easy it looks when others do it, but the minute I tried, I truly had two left feet. Let’s just say it was NOT good.
While I didn’t go down in defeat after my first class, I did give it a few more tries before I retired my cross trainers for other activities which required little or no rhythmic coordination. However, I did take lots of fond memories with me that still make me laugh today. I realized after my many attempts this was not the class for me. I have such a deep appreciation for all the men and women who attend class week in and week out--they certainly make it look so easy and effortless. My hat goes off to you, the step aerobic warriors.
But as with everything in my life, there is a lesson to be learned and this lesson taught me that we are all different. Some people can run, some people can swim, some people can cycle, and others do quite well in step aerobics, but we should NOT have to participate in an activity that we DO NOT enjoy just to get fit and healthy. That being said, trying something new is well worth the risk. How do we know what we do well in or what we like unless we are willing to take risks, even if that means we have to put ourselves out there, after all isn’t that what life is all about?
Have you participated in a sport/activity that was challenging in the beginning, but you now have a passion for it? Are you willing to take risks when it comes to trying new activities? Do you accept the fact that we can’t be great at everything we try, but if we keep looking we will find our passion?
I can’t tell you how many times when I was stretching at my gym I would gaze in wonder in the glass enclosed studio as the throngs of women and men performed grapevines over and around their steps all set to the beat of some really great music. I mean who wouldn’t love to do that! The camaraderie in the class seemed like so much fun as they high-fived one another after each routine, dripping in sweat while taking swigs of water in between workouts.
Two years ago, at the urging of a dear friend, I put on my cross trainers and headed to studio one. Melissa, the aerobics instructor, was perky as usual and was so kind to introduce the two newbies to the rest of the class. Hey, I was beginning to feel like one of the gang. The 'regulars' were all so eager to show me the equipment while insisting it would be best if I situated myself at the front of the class to have a better view, even though I would have preferred to be in the back.
Before class began, Melissa went over a few movements which seemed fairly easy when done very slowly. Then she added the beat of some really great disco tunes. This was it; I was going to be a step aerobics queen! All of a sudden she started calling out the steps, turns, jumps, etc as I looked like a deer in the headlights. When the class was going right, I was going left when they were making turns I was still going right. And let’s not even talk about doing the grapevine. Funny how easy it looks when others do it, but the minute I tried, I truly had two left feet. Let’s just say it was NOT good.
While I didn’t go down in defeat after my first class, I did give it a few more tries before I retired my cross trainers for other activities which required little or no rhythmic coordination. However, I did take lots of fond memories with me that still make me laugh today. I realized after my many attempts this was not the class for me. I have such a deep appreciation for all the men and women who attend class week in and week out--they certainly make it look so easy and effortless. My hat goes off to you, the step aerobic warriors.
But as with everything in my life, there is a lesson to be learned and this lesson taught me that we are all different. Some people can run, some people can swim, some people can cycle, and others do quite well in step aerobics, but we should NOT have to participate in an activity that we DO NOT enjoy just to get fit and healthy. That being said, trying something new is well worth the risk. How do we know what we do well in or what we like unless we are willing to take risks, even if that means we have to put ourselves out there, after all isn’t that what life is all about?
Have you participated in a sport/activity that was challenging in the beginning, but you now have a passion for it? Are you willing to take risks when it comes to trying new activities? Do you accept the fact that we can’t be great at everything we try, but if we keep looking we will find our passion?
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Comments
It is a great cardio workout and I went from a superfit aerobics class to running a marathon with only a few months of running preparation. - 8/14/2010 9:40:12 AM
Occasionally I will do some aerobics on a BOSU. Not enough duration to hurt my feet (less than 15 min.) ... like I miss lap swimming (time/scheduling considerations), I miss step aerobics ... - 3/27/2010 10:28:02 PM
I am addicted to spinning, kickboxing and have recently started to run again, all activities that require little or no step memorization.
It took me months to learn the grapevine. The one and only success with step aerobics. - 3/26/2010 7:09:31 PM
I'm not attending gym as I did not lose the weight, at the rate that the instuctor wanted. He said in the beginning that if after 6 months, no change in my body is seen, then I'm wasting time, which is true to a certain extent, but I'm not like every one else and it would take each person a different time frame to actually get results. In essence I was eating the same foods, exercising and maintaining my "overweightness". So now I am learning to eat properly, focusing on my calorie intake and exercising outdoors until I've arrived at my goal weight and then I'll go back to the gym. My goal date is November 2, 2010.
So right now I MISS aerobics so much, but I'm looking forward to going back and WOW some people who did not believe in me and to get back to my aerobics.
I am enjoying learning to run so far though....... ;-) - 3/26/2010 2:55:14 PM
I'm also part of a step class (thanks to a dear friend of mine) & trust me, there are times I thought I was going to eat that step... I'm amazed that more people don't fall over that step week in & week out. It's amazing, really. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just pushing my luck every week... haha. - 8/25/2009 12:26:44 PM
I didn't give up though. Success felt even sweeter once I got it right. I'm definitely getting back on the board once I find a good class. (I just recently moved.) - 8/25/2009 6:47:46 AM
But I agree, find something you enjoy doing, and don't feel pressured to continue any activity that is not fun. If it's not fun, you won't do it. I love dancing and yoga, so my workouts usually include one of those. I also like some martial arts, so I will includethat in the future. I hate spin classes, I don't swim well, and I haven't been on a bike since I was a teenager, and I only did it a few times then!
I'll do the things I like, leaving room in the spin classes and the pool for those who avoid yoga and dancing, but I'll try something new every few months! - 7/10/2009 10:51:56 AM
Well, I went from 5 laps all the way up to 50 laps per day over time. I loved it. Now remember, I would do these laps with my head out of the water because I didn't want to emerge my whole face. Then just before Christmas I seen a group doing a routine to Christmas music and it was awesome! Synchronized swimming..... Wow! I thought Gee, they're pretty good and each of them was not a size 2 or 10 which was nice to see but I only watched never thinking I'd ever be able to do it myself. Remember, this girl (ME) would only do laps with my head out of the water.
A girl at the pool suggested I take swimming lessons but I tried to avoid the subject. She then told me that she couldn't swim when she first started either so with her encouragement I said o.k. After a few lessons and learning not to hyperventilate when my head was emerged I liked learning all the different strokes and methods of improving. It was great!!
When my girlfriend then said, let's sign up for synchronized I told her she was crazy! ! ! Needless to say I was there.
To sum it all up, I wanted a challenge and believe me it was. We did a routine to a song by Shania Twain. I loved it. Anyone who wants a challenge. . . just go out and do it. Inch by inch it's a sinch, yard by yard it's hard.
Oh yes. ..... . . . if anyone wants great ab workouts, sign up for synchronized swimming, I fit my old jeans in no time at all. The workouts required by swimming on your front and back along with the motions of your wrists . The movement of your wrists is what makes makes you move silently in the water so your abs tighten no matter what and before you know it, you'll fit into your jeans.
Dare to be different! Go for it, you're worth it!!!
I would never have done anything like this without a friend asking if I wanted to but I was so thankful I took the risk. IT WAS ALL WORTH IT! ! !
We became good friends and I learned alot. - 6/15/2009 1:01:12 PM
Sam - 3/29/2009 4:09:00 PM
I've had good success with walking, and now I'm slowing pumping it up to running. I am doing what I enjoy, and that's what is important. I learned a long time ago that when I judge myself against others' standards, I don't like my results. However, when I only have myself to compare to, I stick with it and keep working! And THAT is what gets the results I want!!!
- 3/13/2009 7:25:26 PM
But I love the water and I knew if I stayed with it, I would be able to do it. It took 2 months of showing up 1 to 2x a week and doing all the pre-workout drills, but I did finally make to the bottom. Since then I have played in countless local and regional tournaments, a bunch of national tournaments, and even one world competition.
As Nancy said - there are things you'll enjoy and things you won't. And then there are the things that are worth the hard effort and extra work. Like getting to the bottom of a 12 foot pool to push around a 3 lb puck with a little stick. - 3/10/2009 12:33:24 PM
I tried line dancing. I learned the first dance quite well. But when a new dance was introduced I could not get the other one out of my head long enough to learn the new one.
I am considering trying line dancing at the senior center, but that consideration is way on the back burner. It looks like so much fun, but I fear my pase experiences in the world of dance. - 3/10/2009 12:23:12 PM
I tried line dancing. I learned the first dance quite well. But when a new dance was introduced I could not get the other one out of my head long enough to learn the new one.
I am considering trying line dancing at the senior center, but that consideration is way on the back burner. It looks like so much fun, but I fear my pase experiences in the world of dance. - 3/10/2009 12:23:11 PM
- 3/9/2009 1:38:24 PM
All I can say is -- if you have a dream, TRY IT. You never know what you might gain from living a dream
Cindi - 3/6/2009 9:52:08 PM
Yoga and Zumba are two I tried at the request of others and have ended up liking. I'm pretty good at Yoga but TERRIBLE at Zumba. So I'm doing the routines at home in front of the TV. It's great fun and no matter how confused I get, Beto and friends are still smiling at me, cheering me on.
I've had that experience with some machines at the gym as well. The first few times I tried the elliptical, I gave up after 2 minutes and went back to the treadmill. Now I hit the elliptical first and skip the treadmill in favor of walking the dogs! - 3/6/2009 3:09:01 PM
Good luck, I hope you find something that you enjoy as much as I do tennis! - 3/6/2009 10:55:34 AM
Oh, and I CAN'T dance - I was terrible. But after the first few times we weren't crashing into each other and so none of us cared. - 3/5/2009 8:46:06 PM
I used to hate complicated dance routines, but I've been borrowing videos from the library, and now I think it's fun to learn. So you look a little silly. Get over yourself! Laugh, have a good time.
A good friend is teaching a ballroom dancing class at our community college next term, and I've just about got my husband talked into joining. I remember seeing an article recently, about how learning dance steps delays Alzheimer's. - 3/5/2009 7:45:45 PM
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