Dear LPG,

I think that the last time I really did any serious exercise was about 12 years ago.  I was really competitive and then, as I got older and into my 50s, other things seemed to get in the way a bit.  I have to admit that jumping around was never one of my favourite things to do and it is really easy to find more important things that need your attention if you really want to.  When I retired a couple of years ago I was determined to get fit again, or at least work on getting a bit fitter than I have been lately. 

There are a lot of classes to choose from in our borough and I found that lots of my friends were attending.  So, having arranged to go to my first class with one of those friends, I had no real excuse.  I can remember that, even though we were sitting for most of the exercises, I quite enjoyed going through the motions, but the day after that first short session my bones and muscles really paid.  They ached so badly that I decided to take the next week or two off, but over the next few months I attended two other random sessions and I realised that, each time I was leaving the Gym feeling really good but paying for the visit with severe muscle pain the next day.

I was on the verge of giving up when I had a word with one of the instructors who gave me two really good bits of advice.  The first thing she told me is, no matter how fit you are, the first exercise session that you do after a long period of inactivity is guaranteed to leave your muscles the worse for wear a day or two later, but repetition of the exertion will allow them to get stronger as they get used to the new routine you have forced upon them, and that pain will disappear.  She told me that, after a while, a well exercised body is likely to start missing exercise and its brain will not want to deprive your muscles of the work out. She told me that it is quite common for everyone, even those who had no previous enthusiasm for keeping fit, to actually start looking forward to their classes and sessions.

The other thing that I was told is that it is important to choose a class that is suited to your abilities, and not to try to be the best in the class on the first day.  The instructor advised that exercise is good for all bodies, but each one needs to find its own pace.  There is value in starting really slowly with a watered-down version of the routine.  Don’t reach quite so high or stretch quite so far for the first few sessions.  You have all the time in the world to work up to your personal best. 

Her post script was that I should remember that the other participants of any exercise class should be focusing on their own efforts not watching to see how well the newbie is doing. 

TR, Beckenham