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Sunday, November 30, 2008
Steppin’ back in time to lose weight
Confident, yet unprepared, I stumbled into my first step aerobics class in 14 years.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In four years of working out at our gym, I have rarely made it there early enough to attend classes. But a few weeks ago, in an effort to avoid germy children in the childcare area, I got there super early. (I figured fewer children, fewer chances of my baby getting sick.)
The woman dropping off her child in front of me said she was headed to a class. I was surprised that I might actually be on time for one and asked what class it was. They said, “Step.” I said with confidence, “I used to do step in college. I can do that.”
For any woman that grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, headbands, leotards and Olivia Newton John were all de rigueur. We were the aerobics generation.
In elementary school I would listen to my mother’s workout record (long before Jane Fonda’s aerobic video tapes), and prance around the room to Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are,” the cool-down song. In middle school, I actually took a PE class where we designed an aerobics routine to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”!
In college, the new aerobics trend was step. If you went to the University of Georgia in the early ’90s then you probably saw me in the step class at the O’Malley’s fitness club/bar. (They played the same music for the bar as the gym.) I was the one hiding in the back half-assing my way through the routine.
So with all this experience under my belt I sauntered on into that aerobics class.
I picked a spot in the back, per my normal pattern. I felt like I could keep up stamina-wise and thought I would be sort of familiar with the basic steps. However, I tend to be one kicking the left leg out while everyone else is kicking the right. It doesn’t really affect the workout, but you do look stupid.
Step aerobics started out how I remembered.
Step up, step down. Grapevine left. Grapevine right.
I got it. I’m doing it.
To reinforce my aerobics flashback, the instructor was playing all songs from the ’80s and ’90s. It made me wonder: Can you ONLY do step aerobics to songs from that time period?
We had Salt-n-Pepa “Push it,” and a little “Rock the Casbah.” I think there was some Human League and New Order in there too.
I kept up fine through her warm up but then she started doing stuff I had never seen before. Apparently, there have been some developments in the 14 years I’ve been out of the game!
L step — no clue.
Around the world — also no clue.
Something, something straddle. What? Huh?
Luckily the instructor forgot a big chunk of the routine part way through so she just kept repeating the middle section. It was my only hope Obi-Wan.
So the new — well new to me — innovation in step aerobics is that you work your way around the ENTIRE step. So half the time the class is facing backwards — which doesn’t really work for me for two reasons. A. They’re looking at me doing the routine wrong. B. I can’t watch what the teacher is doing if I’m turned around.
So I just decided to face forward no matter what the rest of the class was doing. I was literally looking front while all 24 other people were turned around facing me.
When I got especially clueless I just sort of danced in the back and sung along picturing myself at O’Malley’s at night.
The good news is I don’t embarrass easily, and I figured as long as I kept moving I was still getting a workout
Two ladies came over to me during the class to let me know this was the advanced class and there was an easier class on Monday.
I told them I didn’t care if I was off. I had enough stamina just not the coordination.
The teacher came up to me afterward and said I did a good job keeping up and to come back. She apologized for forgetting sections of the routine. I told her that was my favorite part!
How do you stay in shape during the winter? Do you do aerobics? How do you normally fare in the class? Can you keep up with all the new moves? Is it like you remember from ’80s? What is your favorite class to take at the gym?
You can email Theresa at tgiarrusso@yahoo.com. Ideas are welcome!
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