Physical exercise boosts my spirit.  Energizes me.  Empowers me.  Makes me stronger.  I don’t think of myself as one who enjoys a particularly strong constitution—physically or mentally—and I’m not an athlete.  However, somewhere, somehow, I internalized the benefits of physical exercise enough to plan the rest of my life around my fitness commitments.

Unless I’m “in bed” sick or traveling, I’m there:

• Monday 5:45, Evolutions Yoga, Gentle Yoga class.
• Tuesday/Thursday 4:30, The Fitness Jungle, personal training.
• Power walk, drink in sunshine as needed.

Yoga is my newest obsession.  As one of my yearly goals for 2012, I added yoga to my routine which has proven to be the perfect antithesis to my weight training at The Jungle.  Flexibility training, breathing, and the calm spirit components of a yoga practice: the perfect cap a Monday.

Evolutions is a studio that understands the spiritual side of yoga and I find myself applying the breathing and focus I learn there to my weight lifting work-outs.

I have more or less, off and on, hired a personal trainer at the Fitness Jungle for the past fifteen years.  The most recent trailing ten years have been the “more” and the “on.” My gym is not “super gym” with fancy equipment and shiny, new cardio machines lined in rows like soldiers.  It’s not a place where you wait in line for equipment or pick up a muscle-bound boyfriend.  It’s a place where clients commit to weekly work-outs, develop friendly relationships with trainers and work-out buddies.  It’s a place to where chatter, laughter and sweat are allowed to co-exist.  We work hard, but we have fun.

Heather, Shannon, and I are the proud owners of Trainer Patrick’s 4:30 hour.  His creativity in designing work-outs, the camaraderie among our cohort, and his constant encouragement make this hour one to look forward to, not dread.

Really, who wouldn’t want to work out     with these guys?

Sweaty, yet rejuvenated, I leave my work-out energized, motivated and hungry for something healthy!  Last night, I opted for a chicken breast, hummus, and veggie wrap.  Mmmmmm.  Tasty.