Wednesday 7 May 2014

For Exercise, For Exercise

Monday night is Pilates night. I like going to Pilates..


I like that my route takes me to a new part of the city and I see unfamiliar buildings; and when I get there I like the car park in front of the church. It's calming, the most peaceful car park in town.

I like the look of surprise on everyone's face when they see me in my exercise kit. because every week they expect me to say I'm too tired and I'm not going.

I like getting to know the girl who told me about the class in the first place and waited for me in her car, up the road, to show me where to go on the first night. She's from my end of the country and sometimes we swap stories about growing up far away from the bright city lights.


I like the Pilates room: not a big gym hall in a Leaisure Centre like the last time I tried, but a cosy little space in a well used church hall, with bowling and painting classes on at the same time.

And I like driving home quietly on my own in the dark. Just me, all exercised out. I'm kind of sorry that Spring has come and it's light on my way back...

...but I'll keep on going.

Did I think I was going to make a layout about Pilates when I started my pondering on the way home the other night? No. But I was suddenly struck by the thought that maybe sometime in the future I'll be paging through an album and I'll have fallen off the Pilates wagon - again - and I'll find it and I'll be inspired to go back. You never know. What about you? Exercise? No exercise? Nothing you want to admit to? 



Smaller scrapbooking? Today I took my typed out journaling on my 8.5x11 page and added it to a 12x12

31 comments:

helena said...

so true how all those other things like venue and carpark and drive home have a massive impact of keeping going with an activity or not. I walk daily and finding a walk I like was really important

Jane said...

what a good idea, I must do a layout about jogging, something I've just started to do x

Lizzy Hill said...

No exercise. And proud of it. I'm 'saving' my bones & joints so they don't wear out when I'm old. That's my theory, & despite continued eye rolling from my 2 exercise-mad 20 something boys...I continue on my merry un-fit way;)
But I do walk the dog a coupla times a week....well, once.....maybe....sometimes!
GOOD on you, tho....& I LOVE the idea of scrapping it:):)

Julie Kirk said...

That's beautifully described Sian. My 'almost everyday morning walk' has sadly dropped off [got out of the habit when I had vertigo and now need to convince myself to get back into it!]

And I do know what you mean about location / carpark etc. My monthly crop is like that, quiet community centre [when there isn't a party in the main hall!], plenty of free parking, its own kitchen and books for sale in a cardboard box. Just drop your 30p in the honesty box.

Gorgeous layout. Makes me wish I was into scrabooking again ... x

Jimjams said...

Lovely page ... always good to focus on the positive (and the side benefits of exercise) ... love the typed journalling - wish I had a typewriter as I can't be bothered to computer print these days. Do you struggle with ribbon replacement?

Anonymous said...

A good location is everything I think when it comes to things that you want to stick with. That's one reason I stopped going to my knitting guild. As for the exercise it's on hold right now.

Susanne said...

No exercise for me lately - tried a Jazzercise class for about 3 sessions and then the excuses set in. I have several Pilates videos, but those aren't used very regularly. I think your layout serves to remind more than you. Thanks for that.

scrappyjacky said...

That's a lovely layout...and I like how you've put the smaller page onto the larger one.
I think location can play a big part in how much we enjoy doing something.
I used to enjoy a pilates class....but problem knees can make it very difficult!

alexa said...

A very chilled-out looking page, with those restful colour choices. Love the little birds ...

Cheri said...

I used to belong to a gym that had yoga and Zumba classes. I loved the classes. Until the pain from Fibromyalgia made it impossible for me to keep up or even make a pretense of keeping up with the classes. I let the membership lapse. And even though I'm not in so much pain now, I haven't had the motivation to go back. Part of it is location. I need to find something closer to home. But the choices... not so great. Kudos to you for sticking with it!

Melissa said...

This page looks great & your journaling fits perfectly in keeping with your style!! I've been working out with a personal trainer, once or twice a week for a few months, circuit training with weights and cardio and all sorts of FUN stuff I've never done before. I'm also riding the stationary bike at home most days for half an hour and taking a one-hour walking class once a week this month, too! :>)

Carmen said...

I keep thinking about pilates. been told it will do wonders for my back. Part of me is sad about not driving in the dark but I also love that time of day just when it's starting to turn from day to dusk - it always feel magical - I love driving then.

Exercise at the mo - mainly walking. Going to start the wii fit as my health improves (went back on the SW wagon this week. Totally in the zone at the mo.) Would love to do more but what...?

Love this page - most of all your thoughtful writing as always.

Alison said...

I have to confess to being more than happy not to be driving in the dark...not something I enjoy! I'm still managing one Line dancing class a week and still loving it!
Alison xx

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

I loved my pilates class and was very sad when our instructor emigrated. Was it something we said?! I should really find another as I'm rarely motivated to exercise at home. My fitness regime consists of a brisk daily walk to shops/PO/library and some weight training on the way home with the shopping bags! Lovely page. Nice to see the doily peeping out.

Ruth said...

I enquired about Pilates at my gym, only to be told that they don't run a beginners' class ... "just join in and tell the teacher you've never done it before" ... perhaps not. The muted colours of your page allow the photo of your trainers to really stand out. I like the idea of a page about my efforts to get and stay fit.

Lou said...

I tried Yoga once and spent the whole hour and a half thinking about all the jobs at home that I could have been doing :) At the moment it's no exercise for me. It's great that you've made a super page to keep you going x

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

I love that you created a page to remember the things you love about Pilates, Sian! I have never tried Pilates before, but I'd like to. As you know, I'm a yoga girl myself - have been practicing for about 20 years now. I started practicing for the exercise, but there are so many other reasons that I found to add to the list of why I practice yoga.

Barbara Eads said...

I have exercised all of my life. These days, it's just walking on the treadmill, but at least it's something!

Karen said...

Another inspired layout! I've been exercising regularly for many years. Now it's mostly walking-outside when I can, on the treadmill during the winter. I just went back to the weight room after several months hiatus. I definitely don't love exercise, but see it as a necessity.

Nathalie said...

I love your page for many reasons: the look of it (and i spotted the 8.5x11 that went into the typewriter right away), but also because it is about you and for you.
It even makes me want to try Pilates! Oh, and I'll admit to liking Zumba a few times a month :)

Maria Ontiveros said...

I'm back on the exercise band wagon and couldn't be happier. I love, love, love the way I feel after a class. And like being stronger each time ago.
I love your journaling.
rinda

Unknown said...

That's a lovely layout Sian, I love typing on a layout but it is a faff however it's done for me. You might have inspired me to have a go.

Exercise, I love, love to run. The only time I didn't work I would run twice a day (and wasn't overweight!) I have phases, I ran all through february and march and felt amazing, I worked shifts last month and didn't and I felt horrible. I know this but I don't know why that isn't always motivation in itself, apart from my body hates shift work now and feels exhausted not just tired.
When I am work I am generally pretty active so that has to do. I managed to leave my trainers on holiday at the end of march and couldn't afford some new ones so I have had that excuse, but payday is tomorrow so I can get some more. Maybe I will blog about it and let you know how I get on!

Jo said...

I love pilates but I never seem to have the time or the energy for it now :( Great layout, I hope it inspires you if you hit a wall x

Becky said...

Lovely page and a great idea to document it. I don't exercise - I would love to do yoga, but don't have the 'oomph' to go on my own and don't have any friends who want to do it. I curse myself sometimes for my lack of confidence to try something like this on my own! Glad you are enjoying your pilates though.

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I go to the gym 4x a week & have for nearly a decade now. Now it is medically necessary for my Restless Leg Syndrome but before it was just to get in shape. I was so tired so often and so weak muscled after the boys were born I had to do something. And it became a habit.

I like food & that means I need to work out if I want to eat what I want when I want & not weigh 300lbs.

Sandra said...

Oh I used to love Pilates, but when we cancelled our gym membership it's been hard finding somewhere else. I find it's a type of exercise that you can improve in without even realising it.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely page Sian - beautiful calm colours. I have just started on an exercise regime and at the moment am loving it. Will have to scrap it so as to remind myself in the future.

JulieJ said...

It's a very relaxing page. I am desperately trying to get back to my Ceroc dance classes.

Missus Wookie said...

Lovely calm page and what a good idea to record your love of the class and details. Hopefully it will encourage you to get back on that wagon.

I love to walk and swim but haven't managed swimming here once the kids knew how and we weren't doing it as PE. Hoping there will be a pilates or similar at the next house as I've also been told it will do good things for my back.

Lisa-Jane said...

LOL! I've made more pages about exercise in the last month than in the entire last 4 years! I love to keep recording the journey and how important it is to me and how much my niece has helped me.

Anonymous said...

I've fallen off the exercise wagon and it's gone off and left me behind! I can tell the difference too--joints and muscles are off kilter, and I'm tired when I shouldn't be. Thanks for the reminder...

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