?Ye aerobics-waerobics kya hai ? Go for a long, brisk walk instead.? Mummy tells me.
But I am adamant. I have to join an aerobics class.
Basically, an aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and is rhythmic in nature. The moment you say ?aerobics?, right away you imagine a shapely Jane Fonda wearing a body hugging suit and leotards, smiling and looking fantastic.
I watch her doing aerobics in an exercise video ?It?s easy? I decide.
So I wear a T-shirt, track pants, sports shoes, head band and I?m on. I walk in this large, gigantic room which has huge mirrors, a number of people trying to look ?cool? and an instructor who looks like Sylvester Stallone. ?Line up? He shouts.
We line up like sheep. I wonder what those mirrors are for. I am told by the lady next to me that they are put there so that we can see ourselves performing but actually so that the instructor can watch where we goof up.
?Warm up! ? Deafening music begins while we wiggle our waists, shrug our shoulders and stretch our legs and arms. Warming up is the right beginning to aerobics as it helps the body prepare itself for the vigorous exercise which is to follow.
?Marching !!? and we march, standing in one place, with the beat of the music. I realize that I am enjoying myself. It?s easier than I thought. But as time passes, my legs are getting tired, especially since we have to lift them really high while marching. When I feel that I can not lift my leg any more, I lax off. But the instructor?s caught me. ?Sujata, keep marching !?
Sheesh ! This is worse than school days.
My heart is hammering inside me. I am short of breath, Then we are told to jog.
I jog as gracefully as I can- hair flying in the wind, like I have seen Madhuri Dixit running in slow motion into the hero?s open arms.
I get a swat from behind. It?s Sylvester again. And he is swatting me with a towel. How DARE he ?
?Run faster !!? He barks.
So I run faster. I forget about aping Madhuri Dixit and run, grace be damned !
Then we get a one-minute water break. I drink the chilled water, sweating and panting. I try to steal a moment to sit down but Sylvester is back. He is a slave-driver, I decide. He has put some fantastic, upbeat music and we are jumping up high in the air. Gosh, this is exhilarating. It?s been years since I jumped so high. I catch myself in the mirror, eyes shining and hair flying.
Then we go, walk two steps, kick box and jump. This is repeated on and on. It looks easy as I write this. But when done repeatedly, your leg muscles ache and scream for attention.
My surprised heart is pumping blood, trying to keep up with my frenzied activities.
Fifteen minutes of this and similar exercises. Then we cool down. At the beat of ?Summer of ?69? we walk about, simulating guitar-playing. Wow ! This is the best part. I shake my head this way and that, throw my hair about like a rock singer as I hold my imaginary guitar and sing along.
Time for abs (abdominals for the one who came in late), thighs and shoulders. We stretch ourselves with hands behind our heads and lift our legs at the knees and lower them without touching the ground. Up and down. Up and down. There comes a point when I can do no more but there?s no way out. Sylvester?s watching keenly. A girl next to me gives a feminine, frail cry and lies there, with an apologetic look. Sylvester strides up to her, scrunches an abdominal fold rudely and shouts ?Go on ! You will never lose this fat otherwise !? Gosh, after watching that scene, I redouble my efforts as I don?t want to get the third-degree from him.
Then it?s relaxation. We lie on our backs, close our eyes and imagine.
Imagine what ?
Sylvester?s voice is soothing, as he urges us to imagine colors, waterfalls, oceans. And all I can think of is what?s for dinner tonight. Well, I have to learn how to control my wayward mind.
So, end of session. As I am leaving, I stare at my face in the mirror. Glowing skin, pink cheeks, shining hair and red lips. How did this happen ? I realize that this is the miracle of good exercise.
So ye aerobics-waerobics is too good.
Sylvester notwithstanding.