Gym Gypsy Diaries...When Fitness Goes Fickle...This week I'm a Dancing fool

Those of you who have been reading the blog for a while will know that I am a bit of a ‘Gym Whore.’ Oh, is that term offensive? Sorry. How about “Gym Hussy?” “Gym Tart.” “Gym Harlot.” No, all of those terms convey the wrong message. How about “Gym Gypsy?” It’s more indicative of my willingness to hit the road rather than hit the sack.

Bottom line: In attempting to maintain a significant weight loss, I’ve made it a hobby to embrace fitness. I'm lucky enough to be able to join a few gyms to keep things fresh, and I'm willing to travel for a great workout.

Not only am I a Gym Gypsy, but I’m an Egalitarian Exerciser. I am open to many new activities, so I tend to cycle (pun intended) in and out of many of them. I’ve fallen in and out and back in love with: Spinning, yoga, road cycling, mountain biking, kick boxing, boot camp, TRX, kettlebells, jump roping, weight lifting, stair climbing, hiking, rock climbing, step classes, Bosu classes, Zumba, Hip Hop, Good ole fashioned “aerobics”… the list goes on and on. Truth be known, I usually do not totally abandon any of the activities- I just favor one or two at a time. Sometimes it depends on an injury of the moment. Other times, it's which ever way the wind blows me. That reminds me, I'd like to try Kite Surfing some day.

Here I'm training for my first Tour de France

On to my current fave: DANCE


(Because you simply can NOT trust me to post without some sort of pet photo...)

"Wave your hands in the air like you just don't care"

Aside from some high school cheerleading, I have no dance background at all. The first time that I formally ‘learned’ to dance was about 15 years ago. Derek and I took a group Ballroom Dance class (please stop laughing...I do have feelings) called Lou’s Fun Dancing (Ok, you can laugh now). Lou was a old-yet-fit guy, married to a younger, hot Latin girl who was also his dancing partner. The pairing was kinda creepy, but they were great dancers and it was fun to watch them. Yet, the waltz didn’t quite do it for me. As taught there, the rumba, salsa, meringue, foxtrot and cha cha were fine, but they were a bit slow-paced. Eventually we stopped going when we got into competitive synchronized needlepoint (kidding!)

I gave dance another try at the gym about 7 years ago: mainly salsa and hip hop. Arguably, it was more fun this time around, but some of the classes were a bit too complicated and besides, I wasn’t quite ready to get down with my bad self. I felt self-conscious and awkward. Dance was once again shelved.

Then, just when I needed it most, serendipity stepped in: During my Dad’s last few weeks of life (a time when I really needed the gym for my mental health) I showed up for my beloved step class only to discover that it was gone: *POOF* after 7+ years.

Just.
Like.
That.

Instead of our amazing Angie, there stood a young guy named Odell, who was about to teach a dance class of some sort. Not step class. Dance.


I had choices:

1. Curl up in a ball and wail like a child
2. Start screaming at no one in particular
3. Turn on my heel and walk out
4. Stay and see what happened.

I decided to stay.

It turned out that this class really took me away (yes, like only Calgon can) and made me feel free and happy at a time when life was sad and uncertain. I had to concentrate on somewhat difficult moves in order to do them properly. And it was just plain fun to shake my ass. Dance Therapy? Perhaps. Loads of fun? Definitely.

Let it be known that I am NOT a dancer. I just enjoy dancing. I don’t know any of the moves. I just follow the teacher and hope that no one gets hurt. Sometimes, I leave drenched. Other times, it’s only a mild calorie-burner. But the smile-factor makes up for it.

I don’t know exactly what clicked for me regarding dance this time around: the timing, the teacher, the style, me in 2010 vs. me in 1993. Now, it doesn’t bother me to pop, body roll or pump it out. Before, these moves would have felt ‘embarrassing.’ And if the junk in my trunk jiggles- (and it does)- C’est la vie. At least I’m having fun.

(OK, maybe I did like dancing a little bit when I was a teenager...)

Please don't ask why I'm wearing a bronze head-band. Oh what? You say that they are back in style?

Another plus for changing up the routine from time to time: I get to look at all of my gym schedules as if I just joined yesterday: a whole new world of ‘brand-new’ classes have magically appeared.

Just.
Like.
That.

I want to leave you with the link to a post that blends the discussion of balance with a little bit of fun. It was a guest post on Janetha’s Meals & Moves from Lisa P of I’m an Okie. Click here and get ready to bustamove.

Q: What is your favorite fitness activity? Are you tempted to try something new? Do you dance?