KTRX

The newest phenomena at Equinox Woodbury. The inaugural Noon session with Kristen starts today. And I was not taking chances that I would be left out of this party. I brought my stepson in for a weeks guest membership and let me say that this young man is in monster shape. We often have shared the basement in the past as I have watched his metamorphosis in his constantly changing, increasingly challenging workout regimen. When I told him about TRX he was anxious to sample what group exercise is all about. He will be challenged I am sure because the Evil Woman will flatten the uninitiated.

It was 67 minutes before class when I arrived and I was second on line and as I sit here with 20 minutes before signup 15 are here already. This is just the beginning and I know the same wait for KSC will be the fate for KTRX. Yes that is my new acronym: KTRX. What is in store for us I can only guess but I am sure that my upper half will be in bed tonight suffering like my lower half did when I started KSC in February.

I can report that this initial class was FANTASTIC with a capital F. Kristen had two trainers in the Main Studio monitoring our class progress including a diminutive but nonetheless power packed young woman named Bianca, who was extraordinarily helpful. I stumbled mightily on the ab portion of the workout and my core froze up like a Dairy Queen sundae. All in all though, exciting and I cannot wait, cannot wait to incorporate this as part of my exercise regimen alongside my spinning one. A new phenomenon is born: KTRX.

Fully Associated

Back in 1990 I first got exposed to Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP in it's short form. One thing I learned listening to Tony Robbins, Richard Bandler and John Grinder back then was that when we became “fully associated”, we intensify the experience. And the point is spot on, because in KSC the intensity of the session leaves no room for our outside world to pierce those glass doors. So the idea that one could be disassociated in spin class was not only implausible but virtually impossible.

But let's back up a bit to talk about this week  in the CS. Kristen was reflecting on some of the members in the main room and how they were disassociated. They can be seen everyday reading, texting and watching the overhead TV's while they plow through their workout. It's as if working out is an after thought and the only reason they are there is because there are so many other things to be fully associated with. I frankly could never fathom how anyone could read a book while on a bike or an elliptical. If you were worth half your salt at least you would do nothing more than listen to your I pod for inspiration, but never be on the phone as I see some members doing or worse yet texting. Kristen was quick to point out that it was not a judgment. It is merely an observation that exercise or training is not for everyone. Some just want to avoid being a couch potato and still others do it to socialize and still others believe that they are working out. It has been an awakening for me and that's coming from a former ultra-marathoner. Spinning has me fully associated every moment until I finish that last stretch.

Kristen, I would love for you to do the long version of the 'quick and dirty', this old rubber band man could use more flexibility.

The Women of Spin

Most of the time in the CS with rare exception the female to male ratio is 9:1.  Yes that’s right it is that skewed mostly due to time of day I would imagine, because at other times before 9 AM or classes starting at 6 PM for example have a greater contingent of the male variety. 

The female athletes in the CS are on display every day and I think of them as beautiful moving portraits. But not like one might think.   Their physiologies are classically feminine but unmistakably athletic.  Most of the women in KSC are physical specimens. Kristen sometimes talks about blasting belly fat. What?  There isn’t an ounce of fat on this woman.  Well maybe an ounce but it must be in her foot because I can’t see it. Then there are other women like Debbie, Nancy  and Elizabeth who are not only trim with classic lines but  they also have the feminine musculature of beautifully carved stone.

When I think of some of the men in the main studio coming in trying to do what we do in the CS I think they would keel over. As big and brawny as some might seem, the type of effort that is commonplace in KSC would leave quite a few stiffs over the handlebars of our Schwinn’s.

 There are exceptions but group exercise has become a boom to the female athlete. What Jane Fonda did for her gender cannot be underestimated. She helped remove the stigma of being in a public place not only with the other sex present but now a woman could really climb to their potentials in terms of their physical prowess.

Oh I do love it when some of my female  CS mates ask me to loosen their adjustment wheels.  Of course I say a little prayer that I can summon the strength and so far I have been successful, whew. 

Climbing Out of the Rabbit Hole

Today was one of those days that I didn't have the impetus to even jump on my bike in KSC. I was quick on the finger 26 hours before and it must have been the holiday because I got #31 and covered it in seconds flat on my macbook.

A monday like no other and I am glad I had the holiday to decompress in the 9:45 segment. Some times life rears it's two headed monster and it was a real test to keep my head in the CS and not someplace outside those glass doors. Sort of practicing what Kristen talks about in our classes each week. I have often thought about how that very concept gets the real test in open waters and today was that day.

I put my head down in that first five minutes and the Evil Woman had a soliloquy prepared as if it was just for me. It was just the tonic to help me out of the rabbit hole I found myself in. If it were not for today I might have found myself behind my computer screen harping in one of my other 10 blogs, but here I am and glad of it. Thank you KSC for giving me a sign post on where to turn when I am on that street with no name or pulling myself out of a rabbit hole I went too far down in.    

Commitment

I know it’s her job but the commitment still amazes me. When I am sick I am the worst patient Florence Nightingale ever encountered. If I have the heaves (pardon the word) it is the bed I stay until the porcelain throne demands I kneel before it.  When our instructor is either sick or one of natures disasters has arrived at her door she still shows her beautiful face.  I won’t go into further detail but I think you all know what I mean when I talk about “her”.

This man is shrinking. In one of my earlier sonnets I featured the Incredible Shrinking Man. He is getting smaller I see it in my waist and my face. I figure it will take about 18 more months before I am in fighting shape but I am enjoying the process. The scale in the Men’s locker room is not running away as it attempted to do in February. 

“ I love this road”. I love it too but when I hear something from the 80’s punk rock genre I am almost glad Kristen doesn’t play those songs because I might be chasing my solar plexus around the CS and it might interrupt a breakaway. 

Through a Glass Darkly

Last weeks Sunday’s class was unlike the previous one, because it had me taking the elevator to the next floor up. I chatted with Don who says he has been spinning for 5 years and he basically said you never reach nirvana; you just keep pushing the envelope and it never gets opened.

 After my ride the pool beneath my bike is deep enough and I might, I just might have been able to do a triple somersault without touching bottom.

Roslyn does create the ambience needed to help induce the meditative state in the CS.  The dimly lit studio creates a cover for disguising the countenance of anguish we sometimes exhibit for show. We needn’t do that because no one really cares and we just don’t need to tell anyone what’s going on inside our frames. 

Melt That Popsicle

I love this metaphor because I am a Popsicle.  It’s maybe 5 minutes into the session and my brow starts to rain and by ½ time my Popsicle is melting and it’s not even MacArthur’s Park. If I left my cake out in the rain the icing would be indeed flowing down.