My brilliant friend Karen is a personal trainer . . . par excellence. I’ve been working with her for about a month and she’s changed my perspective on personal training. Here’s how it goes.
Karen: Stand against this wall like this.
I mimic her stance.
Karen: Arms higher. . . higher. Good. Now push.
I follow the instructions.
Karen: Walk.
I walk.
Karen: Now walk like this.
She picks some funny version of a walk and I walk it.
Karen: Interesting. Here’s what we’re going to work on today.
She walks me through about an hour of work, explaining what happens when I do each thing. I’m mostly listening but it’s such a luxury to follow well presented, well considered instruction, rather than following a standard circuit. I learn stuff each time. I’m beginning to carry a notebook as she’s begun to give me homework.
All of our work together is based on a constant assessment and adjustment. She’s helping me with posture, balance, stretchiness, Dowager’s hump, falling arches, etc. All the things that come to an aging body. I’m hoping to get it all in place and working BEFORE I desperately need it.
So personal training is not about Biggest Loser type pain . . . or competition, which I often feel from yoga classes where other’s are so much more bendy and graceful. It’s about making sure that YOUR body is working at its best possible level and preserving that level for as long as possible.
At the end of the hour I am tired and relaxed with a bit of self-righteous pride thrown in. It’s better than massage!!!!
Wanna give it a try? Tell Karen I sent you.
The Thinkubator 
Does Karen have a website or contact info? Where is she based? And where do you do this work?
Leave it to you to continue to work at integrating your entire self, and inspiring others to do the same. Thanks for that 🙂
Yoga: I do Rodney Yee DVDs at home, and had been thinking of trying a class, but … I would have to do it at some prearranged time, with all those bendy people. The DVD route doesn’t give me any feedback but my own body’s response, which I’ve learned to heed
I’ve been TERRIBLE about blogging the past month. Karen can be reached at 210 884-2620. She doesn’t have a web site. Tell her I sent you. Her first session is a freebie/try it out and see how you like it. I’m hooked.
Thanks dear friend!
We met again yesterday. Here’s what’s exciting. After 6 twice weekly sessions, I CAN TELL A DIFFERENCE!!! Less jiggly (slightly) more bendy (again, slightly). I’ll take it!