An exercise class + Viking Women + Sriracha
May I recommend
Going to an exercise class.
I am not a super-enthusiastic exercise person. I do like a good walk. I have been known to swim a lap, but mostly I would rather not.
Unfortunately, there is no denying that exercise is bananas good for your health. It does all the good physical things for you, plus helps stave off depression, anxiety and dementia.
We are lucky enough to have space in our basement for a little gym and for many years I have gone down there and jumped up and jumped down. I have pedalled. I have ellipticalled. I have burpee’d. I have lifted heavy things and then put those heavy things back down and then I have lifted them up again. I have attempted to do a chin up, but simply hung there, like a bag of potatoes in bike shorts. I have jogged in place and I have skipped rope I have lain on my back and crunched up to my knees. I have downward dogged. I have side-planked. (Ha, that’s a lie. I have never, not once in my life, successfully side-planked. Apparently my obliques are made of oatmeal).
Me burpeeing
All that to say, over the years I’ve spent some time down in the cramped little basement sweating away. It’s fine. I am grateful for the space and the equipment. HOWEVER. Last fall, a friend and neighbour suggested we hit a noon hour workout at our local community center. People, THAT CLASS WAS INCREDIBLE.
I am now a regular. There is something about working out with other people — many retirees, some students, some randos like me — joking with the teacher, grooving to the music (one instructor favours 90s-2000s rock hits — we are doing our mountain climbers to Aerosmith and the Counting Crows and it’s like my youth spent listening to CHOM 97.7 FM was directly leading to the moment where I could sing along to “Hell’s Bells” while doing Sumo Squats. Our cool down song is American Pie).
In addition to some wailin’ tunes, the class gets me out of the house in the middle of the day. I chit chat with classmates about the neighbourhood or about the workout. It’s cheap. It has none of the pressure of a regular gym. I feel like I’m part of the community. I’m now a regular, so at the start of January, I got to do a little eye roll with Brenda about how the “New Years New People” didn’t know where the exercise mats went. Exhilarating.
Tell me about your favourite exercise class in the comments… Also, does anyone, anywhere offer an old school Step Aerobics class? I LONG for that!
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Book Stuff
Podcasting!
I recorded a podcast episode — A Bookish Home — with Laura Szaro Kopinski — if you’re looking for a thoughtful pod with excellent book recommendations, check it out. My episode isn’t out yet, it will be released closer to my launch date.
Book launch reminder!
My episode will air closer to the pub date for Honor the Dead, which don’t forget is APRIL 16th. Pre-order here or here or ask your local independent bookstore to bring it in — they will. Also, don’t forget to ask your library to get it!
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Another little look
An emotional shanking
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