THE GYM, A DIFFERENT KIND of FUN + ADVENTURE

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Here is my take on going to the gym or the fitness centre: I don't do them!
For 13 glorious years I gave fitness classes around the world. Let's call them the fittest, most active, most tiring years of my life. And to this day I pride myself of being pretty fit (not as fit as I used to be, still...) with a six pack (truth needs to be told). Since I left my fitness career I haven't seen or felt  the urge to go back. This mother is highly motivated to follow her own workout regime! And whenever I do I trial class somewhere I'm nagged out cause the instructor is lame, doesn't spin with the music or worse still, the fitness centre signed up the the "Les Mills- dumbing down of the masses" program.
Anyhow, there comes a time when even the hardest of die-hards softens up and says yes to a wonderful opportunity to visit one of the local fitness centres.
I had the pleasure to receive a complimentary VIP pass for


I always thought this particular one in Maple Ridge is so conveniently located between Blenz Coffee (does caramel flavoured, Belgium chocolate infused coffee count as refuel?)

 a Health Centre (you know you are in good hands) and Extra Foods. It's the perfect location for one-stop morning activities: Exercise, morning coffee and shopping!

 Fitwells is for women only. Hmm! What is wrong with having men in the gym? I love men. I like to look at them, Especially in their tight work-out gear. Men bring a different dynamic to the place. And no, I don't care if they look at my butt, This backside is the result of years and years of donkey kicks, squads and lunges-I am proud of it- so look your eyes out Giza!

Surprise surprise: I didn't miss the men at Fitwells.Why? Fitwells smells good! We women smell better than men (?) and follow instructions better: We all wipe our equipment down after each and every use. We don't stand around chitter chattering about God and the world. We might do- but as women we can do bicep curls, leg raises and story telling at the same time.
Here at Fitwells we women work- that's what we are here for- in a friendly, safe, spacious, nice smelling environment.
For four weeks it was a different kind of fun and adventure for me. Let me show you the fun things you can do at Fitwells:

This is Group RX

 Exercise your heart out during XLab (a 10 station circuit!  OH it hurt so good!

Curling it in the Free weight section:

Balling around

Some of the cardio machines

More torture:

A few laughs

Holy smokes, this hurt!

Four weeks, 2- 3 visits each week, muscle pain after each and every workout: That's what I call a successful month!

What I love best is Fitwells doesn't follow the  Les Mills trend, Thank you Fitwells for saying yes to creativity and freedom!

I can't tell you anything about the Zumba classes on offer - 'cause there is more of a Paula Radcliffe inside me than a Shakira.
Nor can I tell you about the fun child care facility on offer - my children are teenagers and can look after themselves.
But what I can tell you- from a previous instructors point of view is this: The classes are professionally conducted - aka, they are fun to participate in. All instructors are approachable, friendly and knowledgeable.
The space and equipment are clean, well lit and ventilated (not one smelly man / woman in sight).
The front desk staff goes out of their way to help you.

It doesn't need to be long trips to foreign shores to create some adventure in your life! Sometimes a visit to the gym in your neighbourhood will do!
For me it was
 

Thank you!
Well, now it's your turn to add some fun and adventure into your life- the good folks at Fitwells are giving away a THREE MONTH membership- FOR FREE! Yep, that's correct. All you need to do is fill out the raffle copter below to enter to win. That's all!
See ya'all at the gym!
Scroll down a tiny bit further and you can enter right here and now!

X-MAS JIGGLES of a Different KIND

There are three things I have to accomplish on a daily basis: To make sure my family is well fed, to exercise and to strategically plan my moves on how to convince the book reading population to purchase my book when it is published (January 2013!, See: "There is a Sucker born every Second").

I enjoy the wonderful feeling of freedom to do whatever I want to do, whenever it suits me. I discovered, To have no schedule is the best schedule to be on!

When I am in need of loud music and human contact I will join a class at our local Leisure Center. For the price of a fancy Starbucks coffee I get a 60 minute workout and can swim at the adjacent pool. I believe this is called 'prioritizing'.

Today was the day I decided to spice up the daily exercise routine (trail runs, power walks and yoga). Leisure Center, here I come!



Usually I end up participating in the class with the ill-mannered instructor, wearing her ill-fitting sports bra! Here is a word of warning: Jiggling "twosomes 'in front of your eyes can be distractive to your workout! It takes all my will power to focus on my foot work and not on the wiggling, jiggling body parts in front of me! And this is said by a woman, imagine what the instructor does to her male participants!  But truth to be told: I haven't seen any men falling of their step yet...

It was my lucky morning:  I had a new lady in front of me; far less distracting than the other one (only a few tattoos, nothing too fancy) and a new  piece of equipment to concentrate on: The BOSU ball.



Her routine was easy enough; to keep the balance was a different matter altogether. Stepping on and off the ball reminded me of a bouncy castle, only on a smaller scale.

I loved it!  A few other ladies were new to this equipment as well. Together we embraced the challenge and opportunity to experience and learn something new. It was wobbly at times, so what? We weren't perfect, but we had fun and we had a good laugh at our own expense.



From the aerobics room I ventured into the pool area. Before I got into the water I watched a few wheelchair bound teenagers. Their caretakers carefully helped them to get into the specially designed pool.  Another teen was put into a lift to help him get into and enjoy the water. Every member of the group displayed either a mental or a physical disability..

Our Municipality here in B.C. prides itself for the wonderful equipment they offer for our handicapped (better:"challenged") citizens, All public areas, facilities or buildings are designed to grant easy access for all. The buzz word is INTEGRATION!

I started to swim, my body capable, healthy and strong -  and it hit me like a hammer on the head how ridiculous my thought process really is! I am getting worked up about the jiggling instructor and loosing track of my footing, whereas right next to me are teenagers sitting in a wheelchair because they can't walk!

Sometimes I really need a slap in the face to realiize how fortunate we are to posess and control a healthy body and mind! Being born free of disability and illness should be the norm, but unfortunately it isn't.

Being "normal and healthy"isn't extra-ordinary! Do you know what makes 'healthy and normal 'extra-ordinary?  APPRECIATION!

To appreciate our wonderful, capable body regardless of its shape, size or age. And our ability to fully learn and experience something new - even if it's the small task of stepping up and down a BOSU ball.