(c) 5/1998 - 1/2012
I joined a Jazzercise class, company, whatever you want to call it. I go twice a week and I have the choice of different times and locations. I can actually go any number of times. So the first tangent that I will go off on is a simple unverified comparison of the different USA Jazzercise companies.
I considered Curves, but it just happens to be for women only. I did a bit of research when I was travelling across the country and found they tend to go into shopping centers (umm now called strip malls) and take a little store front. They have a bit of equipment and look rather informal (this is from peeking in the windows). I understand they do a bit of weight (fat) management as part of the service. Then there are the various aerobic classes given by the big gym complexes. They offer all kinds of methods to provide differing ways of doing weights. Do any of you remember isometrics? Sound kind of like Pilates huh? And so Pilates are offered, steps, bouncing, real weights and even rubber bands, etc. And then there are the simple things that just wear you out like plain old moving. Lastly, don't forget water aerobics for those with all kinds of aches and pains.
Okay, I joined the Jazzercise because I had a friend ask to go with her and Ro just wasn't making any effort to come with me to exercise anywhere. Ro and I used to go to a gym and do weights, but her schedule got in the way after awhile and I stopped going when she stopped. So my friend and I try to meet up twice a week to get our exercise. With the Jazzercise that I joined, they offer different nights and times with different focuses (more weights, more dance, more whatever). I go for the jazzercise by name or the cardio workouts. With these, we get some stretching and warming up, the hard stuff then more stretching and a cool down. Following the rules I'd say. My friend I joked about having Davita join. Can you imagine I'd be holding down my boobs while having a hand on my wig all the while bouncing and jumping and kicking? *giggle* that would be a riot.
I usually go two nights a week but lately, I've not been able to with traveling interfering. Anyway, The nights I go have just me as one of the guys and then maybe another married guy with his wife. That's it for the guys who go. And there is a single boy (I think he is) but he doesn't always come. I switched my Wednesday class and there I'm the only guy.
For my first observation, I am considered harmless -- that is the girls pretty much ignore that I am there when it comes to adjust things, and generally moving about. This is a totally different attitude when it comes to guys who look through the windows. When we exercise, no one is worried if I look at them any more than they worry about another girl looking. Actually when I'm looking *sigh* it's just to help me keep up. I hide towards the back with the other less proficient girls. The girls in jazzercise all seem genuine about anyone trying; giving us all encouragement -- me included.
So what have I observed while jazzercising... let me count the oddities... just kidding. Okay, first, guys obviously move differently than women (thank you deity of your choice). Women have waists and guys have knees. That is when certain moves are supposed to be initiated at the waist, guys will initiate the move from the knees. These tend to be side to side moves. Also if you want a guy to shift his butt such as a basic wiggle, look to see how involved he gets his knees. Another observation is that guys don't hop like girls. I wonder if some guys can hop at all versus jump. Guys want to use big old weights and I can tell you, this girl is happy with normal girl weights. I don't know why the guys think they need big weights unless they are truly trying to add muscle rather than definition. I want definition and besides, my body pains with old age diseases. In general, guys are stiff like dogs and most of the women (not all) are more supple like cats. Another observation, this one about me and I bet it translates to guys is that I have to unlearn boy moves and actually learn girl moves. I have noticed that when I am trying some of the jazzercise moves, I actually have to study how they are done and then try them for awhile to get them. I really have to undo how I move as a boy to redo the move correctly.
Yet another observation about the guys is that they won't wear the tight pants the girls will. I do and that's because I tried loose (but not baggy) and found they didn't move with me. When I sweat, the pants stuck and pulled when trying to do many of the moves. If they are in the tight pants, they cover them up with what seems to be the baggiest they could find. I don't know if the guys are worried about umm their parts showing or what, but I'm okay with myself and so I got the pants that move with me. Even the bigger girls have sense to get the tight stretch materials that move with them rather than against them.
And finally, this jazzercise company for the nights that I go has quite a variety of ages and bodies. We all are not just pretty young things; that helps a lot I think. Also, with the variety of people we are, we all have our limits and so to watch us girls out on the floor, we are out of step, not always doing the same version of the move and generally getting a good workout regardless. I cannot figure out any reason why guys won't go. The two hubbies I talked with are telling me they are getting a good workout and think it is worth going. What is better than going to a place full of women in their exercise outfits not caring you're there and actually not minding if you look? BUT, they aren't expecting the boys to be nasty drooling slobs either and so they can relax. I lightly kid with the girls now and then that I am looking, but they know I need to *smile* just to be one with them. I also apologize to any of them having to see this old struggling body if I'm in front of them *smile* I just feel I should.