It was a rainy winter day. I hadn’t slept much the night before, having had afternoon tea with friends and forgetting that caffeine would keep me awake all night! When I finally did get to sleep—after reading a few chapters of a book, checking Facebook, and playing the daily games from the New York Times—morning arrived only a few short hours later.
Every bone in my body ached. I thought about staying in bed for the day, but I didn’t want to waste it lolling about. At my age, there are still things to do to make a difference in the world, even if it just starts with household chores.
I had planned to do some housecleaning and bake what are becoming my famous coconut cookies, and perhaps a Nanaimo bar. But everything hurt. I didn’t get much done—not even the dusting.
My once-a-week yoga session was scheduled for noon that day. The way I felt, I couldn’t even imagine getting down onto the floor on my mat, let alone getting up afterward. I decided I wouldn’t go. Then I thought I should, but I didn’t want to—I just wanted to stay home and rest.
The interior voices were arguing with each other. One said, “You always quit,” while another countered, “You finally found an exercise that works for you, and you paid your money. Why wouldn’t you go?”
Then there was the voice saying, “You are making good progress. Why quit now? You know if you don’t go this time, you probably won’t go next time!”
I decided to at least get dressed and maybe go. It was still raining as I drove the 15 minutes to class. “If I change my mind, I can always call this a nice drive and go home again,” I told myself. But the closer I got, the more it felt right to be headed to class.
All my adult life, I’ve tried one fitness class after another and never lasted. In the 1980s, I bought the Jane Fonda Workout Video by mail. It arrived, and as soon as I opened the package, I sat down and watched it. It was great, but then I took it out of the player and placed it on the shelf, never to be disturbed.
So it surprised me to find myself parking and walking into the building. I mentioned to the instructor that I had almost not come because I was so stiff and sore. I did wonder how I would make it through. This arthritis is something new, and I am still learning how to manage it.
The class began. Marian, the teacher, took us through the chakras and guided us in breathing and movements that surprised me with how good they felt.
I coughed and ached through the first couple of exercises, but as we worked through the hour, I began to feel better. The tickle in my throat, which had caused me to cough for days, finally abated.
When it came time to stand up and get off the mat, I didn’t have to struggle
At the end of class, I told Marian how surprised I was to feel so much better. She just smiled. I guess there are valuable lessons we can learn, even at this age. It’s easier to live on purpose when you manage your body.
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Laurie Mueller, M.Ed is retired and living in Victoria with her husband, Helmuth. She recently published The Ultimate Guide on What to Do When Someone You Love Dies, available on Amazon. More about Laurie can be found at www.lauriemconsulting.com or on Facebook.