What exercise class teaches about life

Most challenging things are done with others. In August 2024, I initially signed up for this weekly class on my own, totally unsure if I’d know anyone other than the instructor. Turns out, another friend signed up too. Yes! There was an acquaintance whom I’ve since gotten to know better. My friend’s schedule changed, and she can’t come anymore, but now, more than a year in, I’ve recruited a couple of friends to come! We’ve even started meeting to warm up with a walk first. It’s good for me emotionally and physically! (Local friends, I love Brittany Wiggins’ studio and the Wednesday morning class with Stevie after I drop off my kids at school.)

Doing something new and out of my comfort zone is brave. Often, the first step of a hard thing is the hardest. My abs may disagree, but I still think that’s true! I think about when I wanted to get back into counseling to process some grief and transitions. Just calling to schedule the appointment and showing up for the first time was so much harder than scheduling and showing up to the second appointment. Exercise class was the same way for me.

An in-person class means accountability. I’d like to think I’m a disciplined person, but I’m not sure that would be true. I take care of things, am responsible, and usually tend to work before play, but I’m probably not going to exercise on my own. But I’ve hardly missed a Wednesday morning class because of that built-in accountability. 

I’m not very flexible. Literally. And, unfortunately, sometimes figuratively. I’m getting better at relaxing my grip on lots of things in life, but I’m still not very good at reaching my toes. I’d say in parenting, this has been my biggest growth point. Rather than immediately defaulting to justice, I’m sharing the grace God so graciously gives me. 

Country songs set to a techno/dance beat make for a fun playlist. I may be in the minority on this opinion, but it’s been my favorite, despite all the drinking references. I like a good 1990s and 2000s pop mix too. When Cate comes with me, she likes to quiz me on the artists even as we are squatting and lifting. 

Keep breathing. Our instructor Stevie reminds us to keep breathing. Why do we want to stop breathing when we do hard things? Every time she reminds us to exhale, I think about how still it is we shut down when we need to press through. And not just with exercising. 

Actions have consequences. I tell my kids this all the time about how they treat each other, complete their school work, and obey what we’ve asked of them. But it’s also true physically after a full-body workout. Usually, the next day, I’ve got muscles telling me all about it. And consequences aren’t always a bad thing, even if there’s a little ache!

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