Carrie would be amused. I attended a cardio kick-boxing class last night along with Vero.
Years ago, in a short stint at the gym with my roommate Carrie, she would try and get me to go to a cardio class with her. I believe the words “You’re off your rocker!” and “Not until the Smashing Pumpkins reform!” were uttered. The main issue for me was these classes seemed to only house women. While some may think that’s not a big deal (and perhaps a bonus), I did not want to be ‘that’ guy in the gym room.
Fast forward five years and clearly I have come to terms with this hang-up. We drove to the Bob MacQuarrie complex and signed up for the cardio kickboxing class. Not knowing what to expect, we stood around with a bunch of women until the class started.
Start it did! Some booming music and an instructor who didn’t stop for 60 minutes. Yowza! I can probably count three times where I thought I was going to die…mostly from exhaustion, but at one point my leg was cramping up bad and my right ankle was hurting. I think I may have rolled it or did something while jogging years ago as this always seems to pop up when I do something active.
No matter, I made it through a fairly easy routine of kickboxing moves. There were a few moves that bewildered Vero and I (punch, spin, kick, elbow, hand to the face, moustache move, The Shark, Watusi) but for the most part I could keep up with the instructor.
There’s no chance to take a look around at others during the class. I was trying to keep up with the routine and that takes total concentration!
But the greatest motivation of all to keep going for 60 minutes? The 20 women and one older gentleman kicking my ass in terms of athletic ability! There’s no way I was going to bow out in the middle of it!
I got what I wanted out of it…I just wanted a workout. Vero wanted something a little more…some ACTUAL kickboxing was more up her alley. So we’re going to try a class and see what it’s all about.
iplaying: Brother Down – Sam Roberts Band (Live at the Fillmore – Detroit 2009)