Regain your youth in 40 minutes (or less)

Last Friday I got to enjoy another stress-inducing "Furlough Friday" -- a system whereby I "get" a day off as a reminder that my paycheck is cut 10%. It's fun. Last week, I used the extra day to take an extra nap, look around my house and think about cleaning it, but not actually clean it, watch a movie (what are the symptoms of depression, again?), and go to the Friday morning Water Aerobics class at the gym.


The back story is that I've been wanting to swim, because the Rec Center where I work has a great outdoor lap pool (it also has a kick-a$$ water slide and "activity pool") and because it's such a great workout, especially for someone who can't really swim. I dug out my swimsuit, which I'm pretty sure was purchased during the first Clinton administration, put it on, and found it doesn't really fit and its elastic wasn't really functioning in some key places. Of course, who could possibly go into a pool with a baggy swimsuit that may, or may not cover the right places? So I spent my time searching for the 'right' suit rather than swimming. A couple weeks later, I have a suit and new excuse: I haven't swum a lap for at least 6 years, maybe more. What if I get in the pool and look like a doofus? What if I can't make it all the way across? What if there's some pool-etiquette whereby I should know what type of stroke to do at what time? Yeah -- I know what you're thinking: these are all valid concerns, and I should stick to the bike!


While I'm wrestling with these very important decisions (you know, in comparison to the state of the world), I checked out the group exercise schedule to see if there's a time I could go to kick-boxing or yoga or pilates. Before my eyes appears "Low Impact Aqua Aerobics" Fridays from 9-9:40a. My first thought: how the heck could water aerobics be anything but "low impact?" Whatever.


Here's my chance -- get in the pool for water aerobics (whatever that is), and then blend in and swim a couple of laps. Brilliant.


I walked out to the pool, the water's warm, the sun is out, the class is starting to converge. On average, I was the youngest person in the water by about 25 years. Maybe 30.


Notice anything about these folks floating on noodles while dancing around in the water?


Yes. They are all retired. This wasn't my class -- I just found this photo online. I don't think it would look very good to go to a class for the first time and starting taking pictures of the participants.

You can make fun of me for going to water aerobics -- I don't mind. But someday, when you're feeling old and out of shape, I highly recommend you try it out. How often to you get to play with toys in the water as an adult?
I rest my case.

Next up: Bingo at the Senior Center!
(Just kidding).

Since the class, I've ventured out into the pool again to swim a few laps. A good start.