Woo-hoo. My knees no longer look at each other.
As weird as it sounds, this is no small accomplishment.
Several years ago, trainer and Proactive Fitness owner Heather Stanton informed me my knees were beginning to rotate inward – common, she said, in aging women whose leg muscles are slacking off.
Well, slack no more. I am down about 15 pounds, thanks, in part, to a recent workout experience for women in the 55-plus category.
I would be lighter, but an injury to said knees has slowed me down – temporarily.
There I was, a 63-year-old with a breakaway, charging down the gym floor, full-speed ahead.
The crowd (well, at least 10 other women) shouting encouragement, my mind impressed with the fact I am running hard without having to pray for survival. I move my stick towards the goal, ready to net one for the team.
Instead, momentum, and who knows what else, send me flying after the stick, landing hard on hands and knees, onto my side and then my head, knocking my glasses up onto my hair.
Did I mention I was playing ringette?
Yup, first time, first breakaway ever. First time I’ve taken a dive of that magnitude since I was a child.
Those who had been cheering are now standing anxiously around me, concerned about my well-being.
Fortunately, aside from momentary dizziness and cursing-quality sore knees, I am fine. No broken bones – not even broken pride. I have, after all, survived a sport-fall.
Hallelujah!!!
Sponsored by BC Recreation and Parks Association, ProMotion Plus, Legacies Now and the Shuswap Women’s Recreation Soccer Association, “Forever Bodies” was developed by Stanton to get aging women off the couch and into action – real action, sport action.
After initial warm-up and cardio, we learned sport skills.
Our feet became acquainted with soccer balls, our hands with netballs, volleyballs and badminton racquets.
And it was here the only other spectacular fall occurred during the nine-week program.
During a badminton match, in which one very determined woman fell backwards onto her hands and behind, bruising her wrists, the only sound was a teeth-gritting, “I really wanted to make that shot.”
No namby-pambies in this crowd. And forget ‘glow.’ We out-and- out sweated, and many of us left red-faced and damp around the edges.
And we bonded. Some women arrived at the first session in January teamed up with a friend. Others arrived solo.
By the end of the session, there were new friends, an easy camaraderie, and a desire for many for the program to continue.
Along with my daily walks, sometimes two 40-minute, heart-healthy strolls per day and my new passion for snowshoeing, Forever Bodies helped lighten my load – and, more importantly, reduced my sugar levels.
On their way to being dangerously high in early November, they were down close to normal by March. Proof if ever I needed any that my “zip-my-lip and move-my-a…ah, butt” method works – and it’s fun!
And the knees? They’re still a little sore, but at least they aren’t looking at each other any more.
– Barb Brouwer is a reporter with the Salmon Arm Observer.
