Lately I’ve been joining work out classes at my gym. I started with a few Cycle classes, which were fun, then some Zumba, Yoga Fit, Pilates. Suddenly, I found myself working out with groups of people, which is kind of new to me as I’m used to doing regular cardio, gym exercises on my own.
The experience made me realize that there is an exchange of energy in these group exercise classes. It all started with me feeling drained and too tired to get onto the treadmill one day and a delightful girlfriend pulling me into the cycle class that she was about to join. I went in feeling tired and came out rejuvenated. All that intense exercise helped me shake off the lethargy. Aside from the music, the pace of the class and the vibe had a lifting effect on me.
A while later my back was hurting so I could not vigorously exercise. I started joining the Pilates and yoga classes. Pilates does wonders. I must say my back was better in no time. The yoga fit class was a tricky one. Yoga-fit is not spiritual at all and I am a Sahaja Yogini. It helps the body stretch amazingly, which does marvels on the back. Still, when I realized that the instructor who used to greet me all the time before I joined her class, saw herself as my guru now, thereby did not bother to salute me, two things became clear. One is that she does not have the slightest idea on the philosophy of yoga, as humility is kind of a major part of it, if one is into that path. This is not very important, given that I was there for the stretch and she is very good at that. The second however is a little more complicated, Yoga by definition means “Union” so in the state of Yoga we are meant to Unite with the whole. Treating something that is called Yoga even if it ends with fit, as exercise only, will take some getting used to.
The Zumba classes that I’ve been joining , have been completely uplifting and joyous. Then I discovered some new classes that are also intense such as Extremely fit or Tango Salsa Caliente. Now these were not the average group work outs, as I could feel my muscles the next day which is a good sign. The significance of these classes of course is not only that they feel efficient, but suddenly I found myself in a very hostile environment. Ladies in these classes, tend to snap at me with all kinds of ridiculous excuses. Either I block their view of the mirror, which deserves a harsh remark in their mind, instead of a gentle “Could you move a little?”
So I found myself mentally more tired when I leave these classes than physically. We are all connected, so the mood in a room filled with people doing the same things rubs off onto each other. In cycle or Zumba this was a positive exchange. I was wondering how it is possible that all these ladies are so snappy. The instructor is great, he has a bright smile and he makes us all break real sweat, but the tension is not that easy to break. It did not take me too long to realize that I was at the “Desperate Housewives” work out time slot.
They are frustrated, possibly dissatisfied, and therefore snappy. Although I personally find them annoying, for sucking the fun out of what is meant to be a perfect exercise class, being a yogini, I also find myself trying to understand what’s up here. There was a time when house wives were the homemakers, the joy givers, the sweet ladies. What kind of change occurred in society’s perception of them that they feel so dissatisfied with them selves and project it onto others.
I guess all these “Fashion Police” and equivalent TV shows do not help anyone’s self esteem. These shows tear celebrities apart by heavily criticizing their choices in clothing or looks in general. I am often shocked how these shows can exist. They are justifying rudeness, harshness and worse than all they steal emphasis from the things that really matter in life. Esthetics is surely appealing, but inner joy cannot come from appearances. Aging is part of life and nobody can escape it. When women in their late forties or early fifties try to be size two, it just makes them suffer through harsh diets. Hunger can make one snappy!
The irony is that mature skin agrees much better with a little fat on the body.
Breaking a good sweat through exercise can be mood elevating, and even that does not seem to take the edge off with these ladies. It is not so much their fault but more the standard of appearances that they feel they need to reach, is unnatural and imposed through all kinds of mediums.
Most TV shows, impose this insane idea that buying a new bag or new clothes is the answer to life improvement. Personally I love fine things in life and won’t deny the pleasure I feel when buying or using them, but they are the end result, not the source. If one lacks joy, things cannot help as the perception of things will be off as well. The same way if we do not like ourselves from the inside, losing weight or changing the hair would not solve the problem.
This does not mean we should let go of our appearances.
As a Turkish woman I come from a long line of women who love to pamper themselves through the Hamam tradition. Along with the cleansing, comes clarity. I feel very blessed to be a lady, and consider all the pampering we get to have such as scented creams etc, a celebration. The time we get to spend on ourselves should be joyful whether it is a spa day, yoga, exercises or dance.
How can anyone be snappy while dancing?
When you think about it, it does not make the least bit of sense, as dance is mostly an expression of joy.
Just like the yoga instructor who does not bother saluting people who join her class, when we keep things away from the heart but on the mental level we lose joy. The absence of bliss can turn any activity into a burden. It is actually very simple, when we remind ourselves how we managed to enjoy as children, not minding a million details, we can all feel it again instantly. Once joy is present the rest works itself out miraculously, as love is the most efficient way of diffusing tension…
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