Aerodynamics 101

This has nothing to do with aerodynamics, but it has everything to do with aerobics.  They both involve the motion of air.  The former studies the interaction of air with a solid object (according to Wikipedia) and the latter happens to be an airbending attack on your lungs.  Besides, "Aerodynamics" sounded way cooler than "Aerobics".

Aerobics hardly seems like a competitive sport, but there are people (professionals) who have mastered the art of heavy breathing while defying the laws of gravity.  As for the remaining majority, we are still trying to cope with basics like rhythm, balance and of course, breathing.

There comes a time in every woman's life when she has the untamable desire to shed excess body fat (when is fat never in excess?).  That day threatened to make an appearance in my life.  I would have ignored it, if it was not for peer pressure and healthy-living propaganda constantly bombarding me from the media.  I was defenceless. I had no choice. And I needed a reason to wear the Nikes screaming at me from the display window.  Defeated, it was too late to save my dignity, so I surrendered.

I stepped into a world filled with fluorescent colours, 80s music and high-tech water bottles.  It was acceptable to sing along with Wham! while running an extra minute and Madonna became the motivation to do one more lunge.  The mirrors in the studio made me feel like I was living in a British dance movie from the early millennium (I really mean Billy Elliot). 

Eventually I got caught in the fun (endorphins, they should be packaged and sold).  Losing weight became secondary.  At this stage, I had already met new people, because the friend who dragged me to gym in the first place, quit after two weeks.  The only reason I stayed was because I spent too much money on gym membership (and to avoid the inconvenience of confrontation).    

When people asked why I was sticking to it, I gave them the generic "health benefits" answer.  When they enquired about health benefits, I told them it reduced one's chances of getting Diabetes or Cancer (that may not even be true).  But beyond the money or the new friends, it was the perfect opportunity to steal "Me Time" (I was serious about those endorphins).  I could be unashamedly feminine, while dressed like a hobo in an oversized shirt. 

Every enjoyable thing has its limitations or difficulties.  Perspiration for example, no one ends a class looking like the women in those Shield advertisements.  There is also the "Bitch, you stole my mat!" scenario.  Everyone knows that the mats at the gym need to be reserved if one wants to use them.  But someone's mat will always get knicked.  Moral of the story, get your own mat, because it is unhygienic to share gym mats anyway.  Also, it is not like being part of a sports team, so you miss that camaraderie developed in a team.  Everyone has their own goals and you need to have strong self-discipline to achieve your own.

Sure, your lungs take a beating (but that is just for the first few weeks) and you look like you have been running in the rain when it is over (you do not smell like it though).  But the endorphins... the endorphins make you feel like you are walking on air.