My Journey Through Fitness
At six, my sister and I were enrolled in dance classes, but I struggled with flexibility and endurance. I remember a constant pain in my side and stretches so intense they made me want to scream. I tried gymnastics next, and while basic gymnastics wasn’t for me, competitive gymnastics turned out to be the right fit: the constantly changing routines, the wins on strength moves and flips, and the camaraderie of team activities brought me huge joy and helped shape my character. At twelve, I spent about a year in track and field, but I didn’t stick with it.
When I turned fourteen, I discovered shaping, a group fitness class that really appealed to me as a young woman. Nothing brings friends together like meeting for shaping three times a week. Where else could you go from “Oh my gosh, I slipped and ate two pieces of chocolate!” (because at that age everyone thinks they should be losing weight) to “So you’re saying he tried to kiss you???” I don’t remember the exact results, but I do remember having a blast.
In college, I found a gym. I was probably the only one who worked out regularly and with purpose, no matter my class schedule. I distinctly remember doing more crunches than anyone else and being in great shape.
At nineteen I got married and lost eight pounds without trying. By twenty-two I had my first child. I gained eleven pounds during pregnancy and lost it within four months. During the two and a half years I breastfed my daughter I didn’t gain a single pound, even though I ate incredibly large amounts of whatever I wanted. I shudder to think about it now, but during that breastfeeding period I actually ate more than my husband (he’s 6’4″ and weighs 205 lbs). Nothing changed — those were glorious times.
When my baby was six months old, I returned to shaping. Three months later I started hydrotonics—shaping in water. That was fantastic: a solid workout that felt gentler on the body, toning muscles and skin thanks to the water. After six months I had to stop for the fall because I have ear problems; water plus cold weather led to infections. That’s when I began searching for something that wouldn’t depend on the weather, wouldn’t depend on my ability to get to a class, and would actually work.
As soon as I set that goal, I stumbled on a book about bodyflex. It turned out to be the best choice of my whole fitness journey. Fifteen minutes a day—that was the first thing I truly believed in. Over the years I learned that consistency is everything: only what you do every day counts. Working out two or three times a week, with irregular attendance and breaks for “being sick,” just pushes you back to the starting line. That’s why bodyflex appealed to me right away. The breathing techniques clicked with me, and the stretches felt familiar.
Bodyflex combines breathing exercises with stretches similar to yoga—specifically, holding your breath while actively stretching certain muscles. After a deep breath, blood and oxygen rush to the muscle you just stretched, speeding up the processes you want (like burning fat and boosting metabolism). The key is maximum tension during exhalation and complete relaxation during inhalation. It all makes sense, and once you understand how it works, you start trusting the results.
Today I’ve been practicing for three years—now it’s my job and part of my lifestyle. I’ve never been disappointed by the system; instead, I’ve grown to love it and keep discovering new tweaks. I’ve blended in callanetics (unique, varied stretches) and T-Tapp (short exercise sequences that target different muscle groups separately), both useful for specific problem areas. I added strength training with dumbbells because my body asked for it.
So this mix is my life now. And of course, I’m always on the lookout for something new. 😀
