Nirmal Merchant

So here it is, my officially first post on my journal. After I have come to New York there have been many first times for me and it has not been unusual to have more than one first times in a single day. Today was one such day.. Today was my first time to a Kick Boxing session at my Gym. It is my earnest attempt to gain sympathies from you as I mention here that I woke up early in the morning at 5:45 and jogged to my Gym (probably a mile or two..I could be exaggerating)and reached there at 6:15 just in time for my first kick-boxing class.

Right on time.. the DJ puts on the pumping excercise music, dawns his head set for the microphone and encourages the class (atleast 12 of them 2 men and the rest women) to begin the warm up. Soom I find myself kicking and punching in the air with increasing rapidity. Now I don't take too well to aerobic excercises, in the sense that I sweat profusely and am wet and soggly like a mop in less than 15 minutes, especially in this heat. None the less I am determined to continue and I do.. till about 30 minutes when we have our first break.

Now I used to pass by the excercise studio and look at some of those attending it, stop for a rest at intervals while other carried on. I would tell myself.. gosh they must be really out of stamina.. probably weak.. I was quite confident of myself going through the routine without much rest.. But I was wrong.

The second set started after the minute break and in less than 5 minutes..I was out of breathe.. my heart was pumping hard and I could hear it in my ears over the blarring music and the instructions of the coach. I was forced to take a rest.. I was pretty confident about my abdomen too but I could not do half of repititions that the instructor made us do.... I said to myself sarcastically "So Mr. Tough Guy"..

When the session finally got over.. I broke into applause for the ladies around me who regularly attend this routine and did it without much rest.. Who ever said aerobics was a women's thing and weights are a men's thing..might never have given it a try!

I had to walk back all the way from the gym to my apartment....and did so leisurely.. giving my body enough time to cool and relax.. The day went by smooth.. and I can still feel the blood rushing through me and the effects of adrenaline as I write this post.. Whoever needed to quit smoking, alcohol or drugs must give aerobics a wholehearted attempt..

So I am off to my "West Coast Swing" Class now.. watchout for my post on this wonderful form of dance in the Dance section of my website.. Cya tommorrow!!