At the ripe age of 51, I have come to realize how important it is to "listen" to what my body is saying. A few aches here, a few pains there lets me know that I'm not doing something right, or I'm doing too much of whatever activity in which I'm engaged. With corrective measures, I get myself back on course, but this involves not pushing beyond what my body is physically capable of performing. It may come with time, or maybe not. I'm not disappointed that there are those who are "fitter" than I, but proud that I'm able to accomplish a healthful attitude towards fitness in general.
In the past, I had pushed myself towards physical exhaustion and injury when trying to imitate instructors who were farther along the health path than I. This is where listening to your body comes into play. Know that the the instructor is giving you an example of how a move is supposed to look, but also know that if it doesn't fit you, DON'T DO IT!!! Modify the move by lowering the arms just a tad, not squatting as low, not jumping as high (or not at all). My goal as an instructors is to not only show you the "fancy" moves, but also offer low impact alternatives to keep you safe. It's also up to you to take care of yourself! Your back says "I ain't havin' that move today," listen to it. While we strive to achieve physical perfection (or a reasonable facsimile), we must also keep in mind that our bodies may not be totally ready to take on a certain challenge.
Be easy on yourself. Know that fitness is a process, and everyone's level of fitness is different. Just because your instructor can bend over backwards or do the splits doesn't mean you need to. Be reasonable with yourself, take small steps instead of giant leaps. People get discouraged when they overdo the fitness thing, and risk injury, too!
Love yourself enough to acknowledge that you're gently working towards perfection. But you know the old saying, it's not the destination, but the journey.
Your Humble Barefoot Diabetic
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