This morning I got up the courage to attend a class at the Apple that was not Yoga. Step Aerobics is almost everyday at 8:30 so I decided this was going to be "my class". The timing is perfect and I need the structure to keep my heart rate up so I can actually burn some calories. I have been working out for weeks now trying to build up my endurance and condition myself to make it through the 55 min class.
I went a little early and warned the instructor that I was new and might pass out. I lasted about 20 before I had to pee. My bladder is not used to all that jumping around. I came back in and gave it my best effort but at about 45 I had to stop. My head was spinning and my heart was racing faster than it has since child birth (or some other activity that I have not done in 10+ years). I have to say, I am not afraid of sweat. I am not afraid of turning into a tomato...which I do every time I work out. I am afraid of collapsing onto my step and rolling into the path of the girl stomping out her steps next to me. Mostly because it would cause everyone to stop and look and I would be responsible for their decreasing heart rate.
So I choose to step aside and wait it out until the spinning stopped and the heavy breathing subsided a bit. The instructor got a little worried and came back to make sure I was not nauseous...I know to drink water so that was not an issue. She was relieved. But did mention to the entire class that I was brand new. To which I got a round of applause and a whole bunch of well wisher comments as the class ended.
Maybe aerobics classes are not the evil place I once thought they were. Maybe no one cares if you can do the steps or not. Maybe everyone is as worried as I am about passing out into oncoming steppers to even notice me red faced and frustrated behind them.
One gal, the one with the 3 levels under her step and kicking her leg up to her chin, walked down the stairs next to me and said "I hated step for about a month. I was so worried about everyone watching me and not knowing what to do...but then I realized no one cares and they are concentrating just as hard and are too focused to notice my mistakes. Now I love it!"
Maybe in March I will love it too. As long as I don't pass out I think I will be able to keep going.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Step Aerobics Nearly killed me...
Posted by lishajeanne at 2:21 PM
Labels: aerobics, Apple, truths you never want to hear
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9 comments:
I got a step for around $15 and it came with a video. I was too scared to go to class. When I first started doing it I thought, wow, thank goodness I am not in a class, I would look ridiculous. After awhile I started getting better. I would have been embarrassingly off if I started in a class so I know what you are talking about.
Any workout routine is a killer the first time. My first spinning class I thought I was going to die; I had even been working out before this, just a different workout. I couldn't walk or sit normal for the first few days after, it took me a couple of months too and now I love it and do it 2 sometimes 3 times a week. Hang in there you don't get anywhere by quitting.
Awesome job Leisha! That takes a lot of effort to follow through with wanting to make changes in your life. I know, 'cause I haven't been able to stick with the changes I hvae tried to make. Great job on all of your mini resolutions they are progressing well.
I'm so with you on all of this but w/diff. classes like Bootcamp last month and Powercut today. Oh and I'm trying Zumba tommorow...Aaaahhh!!!
Oh I love and miss working our that hard! Spin is my favorite. I wonder if the red face is in the family? I always feel like I have the most red face of anyone in the room, and I seem to sweat a lot more too! Hate it. I just barely got a gym membership again, so I'm easing back into it slowly via walking workouts on the treadmill. I had sciatic pain for the 1st while of my pregnancy and couldn't work out...and the weight gain shows it! :( Oh well...just have to do my best from here on out. Thanks for sharing; I love workout stories--they're motivating to me :) Keep it up!
Bwahaha! I love that perfect description of what you are really afraid of (me too). That was so awesome that I saw you this morning. I'm going to the 6 a.m. step class tomorrow. I went last week for the first time, and my experience was almost exactly as you described it, except that I was 10 minutes late and stood there at the beginning not know where the steps were kept and feeling incredibly stupid. Finally some kind soul showed me where they were, and then I spent the rest of the hour trying to figure out what things like "scissors" and "around the world" meant, and throwing off the flawless, synchronous choreography of the rest of the class. Good luck tomorrow!
Yay for Lisha! You are a brave girl! And yay for not hurting yourself (or anyone else) in your first class!
I have to admit, I took the day off (today is the day I actually work for my membership). Only one calf hurts though...is that strange?
I agree. I hated going to classes like that cause I am always thinking that they are looking at me thinking...what in the heck is she doing? But then I looked at everyone else, and they weren't looking at me at all! Anyway, great story. I think that we all have one of these! Hope that you guys are doing well!
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