Taking a lickin' to keep on tickin'

It starts with Ibuprofen, at least three. This helps to calm the muscles before they  have a chance to catch fire and I'm talking burning. Then the music starts up, wild, crazy and fast. The room full of woman take their places and begin dancing and moving in sync. Except me. I'm moving and dancing but the steps are so fast I can't seem to coordinate my arms and feet at the same time, but I'm loving it.  Although I'm flailing about, I feel so wild and free like a jungle native dancing around a bon fire shaking it for all it's worth. I envision myself with long dark hair, scantly dressed swinging to the beat of the drums. It's exhilarating. It's sensual. It's aerobic. It's Zumba. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Tuesday and Thursday is the exact opposite, except for the burning sensation in the muscle department. Things slow down to a snails pace holding each pose longer than my poor arms and legs can tolerate. The music is soothing, the movements are methodical but the workout is insane...It's called Yoga.

The thing with yoga, I have this tendency to laugh or talk to take my mind off the intensity. Like when we're holding a pose and our hands are reaching for the sky in a 'prayer position' I'm praying I don't tip over. Or I'll say something to the gal next to me causing her to giggle. Her reply, "Gee Saimi nobody talked in class before you came, we just suffered in silence."

What can I say, I'm a team player.

The instructor wearing a 'Boot Camp' tee shirt joined in the fun and said, "If you're talking you're not working, I'm embarrassed for you."

Once again I try to compose myself but I just cant seem to suffer in silence. Another exercise involves lying on our backs with arms and legs stretched out. We'll lift a leg and reach with our opposite arm crunching our stomachs.  Boot camp instructor instructs, "Uuuuuup, and down....uuuuuuuup and down." I begin to focus on how he's says 'up' and again I start laughing to myself, then taking it a step further, I mimic him.

Boot Camp instructor hears me and asks if I'm mocking him....I can't help but laugh harder.  Next exercise involves pairing up. What happens when two girls get together?  You got it, more chatting and visiting...Boot camp instructor says, "We're here to make muscle, not friends." I remind him woman can multitask.

Each day is an amazing workout and I can honestly say I've never had so much fun exercising. The girls come from all over the school district making it feel like it's one big employee reunion. We meet at one of the elementary schools and the classes are taught by YMCA instructors.

I always feel tired after a day of preschool but since I started exercising I seem to have more energy....Funny how that works.