When you take on a fitness routine, it feels as if you are boldly going where no-one has gone before. Whether medically triggered or a personal eureka, you are venturing into a new, strange world, where supporters help. Bring on the cheerleading section.
Myself, I’m seriously intimidated by any athletic group. Tennis club, hiking group, cycling association, weight room lifters, seniors’ fitness class, I walk in, heart pounding, looking like a deer in the headlights. They’ll have the right clothes, shoes and already know everything. I will fall publicly short. Inside my head I hear, “I’m an inept outsider and no-one will talk to me.” It’s some kind of childish hangover that I should be past by now. How do you feel, taking that step?
Choosing to up your game is complex: first you pick the way you are going to do it, the place, then you’ll sign up, maybe pay up, rejig your schedule, get there in clothes and footwear that you hope will work. It’s a big deal and a good time to have cheerleaders to pull you through.
If it is a room full of little old ladies, they will welcome you, make you feel safe and included, right off the top. In my first Y fitness class, Valerie touched my arm and smiled, “You’ll be fine.” There. Like the touch of a Fairy Godmother wand, ping, I was fine.
I have found many kind, supportive people on my fitness journey. In one class, doing an exercise called “farmers’ carry” as I staggered around the room carrying the heaviest weight I could, I heard from across the room, “Way to go Margaret! Look at you!” Cheerleading at its finest.
My son-in-law’s support started years ago when he gave me a stylish sports vest. I was flabbergasted. That was the start of a string of sports clothes, more high-end than I could buy, always gorgeous. My favourite sports stuff comes from Jason.
He and my daughter and two grandsons cheer me from afar. They send me articles about seniors’ fitness and share ideas on building bones. Just as importantly, the whole household behaviour models what day-to-day fitness looks like in busy lives. At any point in their house, someone is at the gym or the pool or Pilates studio, skiing, scuba diving, swimming, weightlifting, running. They are strong and healthy and supportive of others. Two of them partner with individuals in the Parkinson’s group at their boxing gym, one-to-one workouts and individual cheerleading.
That’s what support looks like. That’s people believing in the fitness journey of someone else, appreciating the value of their workout, encouraging them to keep working on it, reaching higher.
Have you ever been in a marathon race? Or watched one? There are volunteers lining the route, complete strangers, holding out little paper cups of water, running alongside so a runner can grab one without slowing down, encouraging, clapping, cheering. More cheerleaders.
When I turn down friends’ coffee invitations because I have a fitness class, my friends endorse my choice, pat me on the back, encourage because they’ve become part of my cheerleading squad.
We are doing something brave and courageous when we move up our fitness commitment. We feel sheepish about how our body looks and its limitations. Once started, there’ll be moments when we are sore, or feeling lazy, or the weather stinks, and we don’t want to go out. But when our fitness-mates grin as we walk in and say with enthusiasm, “You made it!” you know you are accepted. They’ve got your back. You’ve got cheerleaders.
Upping your fitness? Build your own cheerleading section. Start by talking to friends and family, giving cheerleaders a chance to step forward. It matters more than you imagine. Like a surfing wave, their faith powers you forward, carries you along. Find your champions. Hurray for cheerleaders.
You can find more in episode #4 “Cheerleader” in Aging Fitfully: www.youtube.com/@AgingFitfully
Margaret Archibald is a 79-year-old Canadian retiree, who is neither medically nor fitness trained. She is not qualified to diagnose nor recommend health or fitness. She is simply learning how to develop her own fitness, bound and determined to keep on loving aging.