Some mornings, the birds are the entertainment. Other mornings, the wind tries to personally escort you back home. And sometimes, you get both of those things before 9 a.m. and still have to make it to Jazzercise on time. Welcome to my life! 😂
🐦 Walk 4 of 5 – The Photogenic Birds
This morning’s walk came with some lovely neighborhood scenery and a few feathered friends who were more than happy to pose for the camera. There’s something about watching the birds go about their business that makes an ordinary walk feel like a little adventure. Some days, they’re practically arranging themselves for a group portrait!
Walk to Starbucks Receipts
Starbucks to Home Receipts
Of course, the wind had other plans for me. I was walking straight into it, and it was definitely making me work for those miles. But I had a schedule to keep because Jazzercise was waiting, so I decided it was time to get trucking on the return trip.
My Fitbit noticed! The return walk picked up speed, with my pace reaching about 21:03 per mile over the final stretch. I finished 1.28 miles in 28 minutes and 47 seconds, with an average heart rate of 112 bpm. Not bad for a walk that included a headwind and a deadline!
💃 Jazzercise #65 – Jennifer Brings the ENERGY
Today’s class was a new adventure because I had never taken a class with Jennifer before. My booking originally said Vital Sculpt HIIT 60, but the plan changed to Cardio Sculpt. Yay! I figured I’d probably know the routines.
HAHAHAHA. No.
Jennifer apparently decided we were taking a musical field trip back to the 1990s and 2000s. She pulled out routines I didn’t recognize, and suddenly I was learning choreography on the fly. So much for cruising through familiar moves!
But here’s the thing: Jennifer was really cool. She has a completely different style from the other instructors I’ve taken classes with, and that’s one of the things I’m enjoying about Jazzercise. Each instructor brings something different to the room.
Jennifer has a ton of energy, and her movements have this muscular, almost elegant quality to them. You can really see which muscle groups she’s working through the choreography. It was interesting to watch how she put everything together, and she taught the class well even when the routines were unfamiliar to me.
There was just one small complication.
THE COUGH DROP. 😂
Jennifer is getting over the cooties her grandchildren generously shared with her. You know how grandchildren are: adorable little petri dishes with excellent public relations. Apparently, her throat was getting dry, and she was trying to keep a cough drop handy so she could keep talking while teaching.
Except she was also running around, dancing, and leading a cardio class.
At one point, she lost the cough drop.
I mean, what could possibly go wrong? 🤣
I completely understand needing to keep your throat from drying out when you’re teaching, but perhaps operating a cough drop while conducting a high-energy cardio workout deserves its own safety briefing.
Still, Jennifer was lovely, and I think she’s going to be a fun instructor to have in the rotation.
The other bizarre part? Her face reminded me SO MUCH of one of my pinball friends. And this particular friend is one of those loud, in-your-face personalities. So there I was, getting my cardio instruction from someone who looked like my pinball friend had wandered into Jazzercise and taken over the studio. It was a very strange crossover episode!
🔥 The Numbers Don’t Lie
My Fitbit was pretty impressed with the morning’s activities.
– Walk: 1.28 miles
– Walking time: 28 minutes, 47 seconds
– Average walking pace: 22:34 per mile
– Walking average heart rate: 112 bpm
– Jazzercise #65: 44 minutes, 24 seconds
– Average heart rate during dancing: 126 bpm
– Vigorous-zone minutes during class: 27
– Total Zone Minutes: 67 — goal completed!
– Steps by 9:57 a.m.: 9,780
Jazzercise Receipts
That is a whole lot of movement before most people have finished their second cup of coffee!
💪 Knowing When Enough Is Enough
I made the decision to skip the strength-training portion today. Between the windy walk, the unfamiliar high-energy choreography, and the fact that I was thoroughly wiped out, I was good.
I’m still being careful with my right shoulder, too. Pinball requires those shoulders, and I have absolutely no interest in injuring myself while trying to get healthier. I’ll keep moving, keep stretching, and work within what my body can comfortably do.
Wellness without perfection means knowing when to push a little and when to call it a day. Today, the cardio portion was plenty!
🥕 Still Showing Up
Walk 4 of 5 is done. Jazzercise #65 is in the books. The birds got their photo shoot, the wind got its workout, Jennifer brought the energy, and the cough drop made a surprise guest appearance.
I’m building healthier habits one walk, one class, and one slightly ridiculous story at a time. I don’t have to know every routine, do every exercise, or be perfect. I just have to keep showing up and take care of the body that’s carrying me through all these adventures.
Movement in real life still counts. Even when the choreography is from 1997 and your instructor is chasing a cough drop.
Always!💜😂
Read more.
Carrots for a Cause – American Cancer Society 62-mile October Walking Challenge
Starbucks Carrot Method – North Phoenix Walking Series and Jazzercise
Weekly Reads (Foodie Friday just posted)