Back in the Pool

I finally got back in the pool last evening, after overdoing it and injuring myself in a water aerobics class last weekend!

The water aerobics class had been a combination of hard work and fun. The instructor was very nice, introducing herself and asking my name before the class. During the class, we concentrated on cardio, a great workout, really. In the pool, I felt like I could keep up pretty well, and "keep up" or not, I was still part of the group of 20-25 participants. After the 60 minutes was up, most of us got in a big circle, and the instructor tossed 3-4 big, colorful beachballs into the air. We spent the next 30 minutes batting the beachballs around, trying to see how long we could keep them airborne. Lots of laughter, some splashing, a good bit of stretching to reach for the ball, an all-around good addition to the class, I thought.

Well, as we were finishing up, I noticed that the area on the inside of my left kneecap was hurting. I got into the hot tub for a while, but it still hurt! Ice and ibuprofen at home, still quite tender. *sigh* For the past week, it's hurt to walk down the stairs, get out of the driver's side of the car, etc.

So I went back to physical therapy Thursday morning, and when I explained the new injury, I got the hairy eyeball! Just for a second, but I recognized it. "Too much too soon," they said. but of course I figured that out already! *sigh* They encouraged me to continue exercising in the pool, but on my own for now, and doing the exercises they recommend.

I decided to go back to the pool last night, though I got to the gym 6, with only an hour before closing. I decided it was enough time to get an okay workout in and still sit in the hot tub afterward. I really like this pool, which is shallow enough to walk all the way across with my feet on the ground and my chin above the surface. Also, the pool and the hot tub are saltwater, certainly easier on the skin and eyes than pools with a higher concentration of chlorine.

So, I ended up walking 5 laps in the pool, including two laps backwards. Then I did several exercises (leg kicks forward, backward, to the side) holding onto the wall. All in all, a decent workout for me, starting back at Zero.

I wasn't alone either! I chatted a little with one lady (about my size) in the pool who was doing laps too. When she joined me in the hot tub, I learned her name was Grace. Several other people joined us, including a lady named Jacquie, who was about the size of my right arm, whose goal was to eat enough green food that her poop became a constant shade of green. That's when I decided it was time to go! :-) I had to make a quick change, since the gym closed in 10 minutes!

I hope to make it back to that pool today, so I'm going to get started on my homework now. That pool is part of my gym's network, but it's about 30 minutes from my home, too challenging to get to most weekday nights. There's a pool closer to home, but it's not as pleasant (and no indoor hot tub!). Still, I may use it some anyway during the week.