I live in a community that has a lovely exercise room fully equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes and all sorts of equipment that I don’t know how to use. The reason is that it’s my least favorite place to visit. I have on occasion taken a twirl on the bike but only if I’ve brought a good book with me that will keep my mind off what I’m doing.
It’s all so incredibly boring! Every minute that I’m exercising feels like an hour. There has to be a better way to stay in shape.
A few years ago I discovered the magic formula. I started playing tennis. Even as a beginner taking lessons, I got a pretty good workout. I met others playing at my level and before I knew it, I was playing two or three times a week.
Then came winter and indoor tennis. I joined a club and continued to play a few times a week. I made some friends who liked to ski and invited me along. I hadn’t been on skis since I was a child but was willing to give it a go. It was so much fun that I started to go on ski vacations where I certainly got my share of fresh air and exercise.
When spring came I was sorry to see the snow melt away but happy that outdoor tennis season was beginning. Just then, a friend invited me to have lunch with her at her golf club. It was a lovely place with peaceful surroundings. The freshly cut fairways and the family of ducks swimming in the pond were a world away from the busy suburbia where I lived.
You guessed it! I took up golf which was much harder to learn than tennis and skiing combined. Still, I was determined and many lessons later, I began to hit the ball well enough that I could make my debut on the golf course. Walking along and pulling my cart didn’t feel strenuous although an average18-hole golf course requires you to walk a minimum of five miles.
Now I juggle these activities with work and family commitments. My social life revolves around golf, tennis and skiing. If I have a free day, I go for a long walk through the park.
Did I say I hated to exercise?
By Natasha Morgan of Not Just the Kitchen
