March 2008 GOal Getter
It's the Little Things That Count!
I reached a point in my life about ten years ago after having cared for some of my family members that I said to myself, it was time I took care of myself so our son did not have to take care of me when I am older. It was about a year later I found myself across a conference room table from Leighann. She spoke briefly about her job and her dream – her enthusiasm was something that I could not shake. She loved what she was doing as much as I loved my job – that was what I needed.
Momentum opened and I started taking classes— BodyPump, RPM, Pilates – I was addicted. I was coming to the club 4 or 5 times a week and then started to train with MariBeth. She corrected my form, and encouraged me to challenge myself in ways that I did not believe I was capable of doing. I felt good about myself for the first time in many, many years.
About 2 years ago, I had rotator cuff surgery and had to stop exercising for 4 months. When I started back at the gym MariBeth was there for me to keep me in form and encourage me and then yes, I lifted a box overhead and tore the same rotator cuff again. This time I was out again for 4 months but was determined to get back in shape. I started training with MariBeth again, and she encouraged me to work with Kathy Kitchen on the Pilates reformer. I reluctantly started but I was not sure the reformer was for me – I didn’t think it would challenge me enough and some physical therapists were not sure it was the best thing for me – they were wrong and I was wrong. Kathy worked slowly with me because I virtually had no range of motion in my right arm at all. She would very carefully explain each move and tell me how it would build and strengthen my muscles from the inside.
Kathy kept telling me in was the small, slow, subtle moves of the reformer that would get me back in shape complementing the training I was doing with free weights and aerobics. She was right – it took me about 3 months but those small, slow, subtle moves worked and I was actually able to do circles on the reformer and so much more. Kathy then encouraged me to take Total Tone with Abby. I now have been taking Total Tone once a week for about 2 months now and enjoy every minute of it.
I am 54 years old and started to run this year – it is another small step for me, but one I would not have been able to even think of if it were not for the encouragement I receive daily from everyone at Momentum. I may not have abs like Kathy and Abby or legs like MariBeth, but I am moving my mind, my body and my spirit thanks to Momentum!