Do you know what it’s like to be the biggest person in an exercise class?
I have attended exercise classes at the Y before, but usually I haven’t been up front – close to those mirrors. Also the other classes that I have taken have been faster paced, so I never really got a good look at myself in action. But this class was different – it was designed for older folks ( Forever Young is the name of the class – you get the idea)….So the pacing gave me time to notice myself in the mirror. And in the Tai Chi class that followed ( where we were working on form) it was helpful to use the mirrors. I was actually surprised to see how huge I looked compared to the others in the class – and I was also surprised that I wasn’t really aware of how I appear to others ( there is a thin person inside of me – really). Anyway, my first thoughts were that I was so much bigger – so much heavier than the others that I really seemed out of place. Negative thoughts – not the best encouragement for action, are they??? This experience is one that taught me several important and positive things as well: 1) I do need to be in an exercise class and I should be complimenting myself every single time I do it – no matter what. 2) I can easily keep up with and do the senior workout! 3) Full length mirrors can be a help on this journey and perhaps I out to use them more often to motivate me.