My fitness plan has taken me into a world that was always foreign to me for the first 50 years of my life. Weight-Lifting Machines were part of a life that belonged to others: Professional Athletes, for example. .... or students who are training to become professional athletes.....
Weight-Lifting Machines, and weights in general are now a regular part of my life. At first, I was a bit intimidated by them. Now, they are my friends.
The Westerville Community Center (which I refer to as the Rec Center) opened in 2001, the same year that I moved to Westerville. I drove past the large, attractive building occasionally, and I usually thought of it as a place with a nice indoor pool. At some point during my early years in Westerville, when I had a lot of pain in my deteriorating knees, I decided to take a Water Aerobics class in the nice indoor pool! That worked very well for me and introduced me to something I had always stayed away from - a pool.... filled with water.... water that got deep....
For a minute, go back with me in time to my childhood. I think it was in the summer when I was about 8 when my mother signed me up to take swimming lessons at the YWCA in Lima, Ohio. The Y was right across the street from the Public Library, so it was a big occasion for us to be dropped off down there by Dad, and Mom and I would visit the library and then go to the Y for my lesson. I think the class was called - and I'm not joking - "Absolutely Terrified". It was a class for kids who were afraid of pools. The point was just to get us used to being in the pool and learning how to float. Well, I actually FAILED the class the first time I took it because after several weeks of being IN the pool with a trainer, I still couldn't float. So, I took the class a 2nd time..... and I FAILED the class a 2nd time! Evidently, I was still "Absolutely Terrified"!!
Fast forward to my adult years - living in Westerville - with a new Rec Center. Can I actually take a Water Aerobics class in a public pool with other adults? Well, I did! For the first few classes, I tried to stay by the wall so I had something to hold on to, but I did get to the point where I could take that class and actually DO the activities as instructed. In fact, I took that class several times, and it worked well for me! The pool also had a walking path where you walked against the current and I really LIKED that. And then.... there was the hot tub.... where I could relax my aching legs.... that was HEAVEN!
While I was at the Rec Center, I learned about being able to sign up for a physical therapist to work with me on exercising. That is where I was introduced to a weight machine called a Leg Press. My therapist had me use that machine, and we also lifted dumbbells. Then with weak knees, I didn't walk the track.... that is for "athletic" people, right?
I went through a period of years when I didn't visit the Rec Center. I had knee replacements, and did my theraputic walking outside or in my school building. Then came Covid, and I continued to stay away from the Rec Center.
Fast forward to 2022. That's when I went back into the Rec Center to walk the track. The Center had expanded and now had many more weight machines and workout areas. That's also when I met Andy my fitness trainer. He walked me through the weight machine room and introduced me to some machines that would become my new best friends.
Incomplete post - posting anyway....
