You're Doing that Wrong...
I dropped by the pool at the YMCA yesterday for a quick swim, and, only after I had put on my swimsuit, locked my stuff in the locker, and headed toward the pool, did I find out the pool was closed due to one of the "Y" campers throwing up in the pool -- Bad for me, but I'd imagine a much worse experience for the poor kid who's summer camp memories will include the "pool incident"...
Well, I always carry a pair of shorts, shirt and shoes for such occasions, and typically jump on a treadmill or one of the exercise bikes - But I'm already ahead on both running and biking for the week, and have a couple more of each of those disciplines on the schedule, so, I decide to hit the weight room to salvage something from the time to drop by and get dressed to workout.
Now, I'm not a weight lifter - Never have been, and don't foresee being one anywhere in the near future - Usually, all the swim, bike, and run training keeps me in good enough shape as to not necessitate all that grunting and straining on the weights. But, I did a few curls, presses, etc, etc, and finally worked my way around to the ab-machine.
I do about a zillion sit-ups a day, so I figured the ab machine would suffice for a few of those. I jumped on, proceeded to "pump" my abs, when... A little old lady [Yes. She was really little, and... really old] came up to me and unceremoniously said, You're doing that wrong. What! I sort of instinctively responded. Without any explanation or smalltalk she quickly repeated in the same monotone fashion, You're doing that all wrong. You're not supposed to bend your arms. See that picture? [The one we seasoned athletes need bother studying] Do it just like that. Don't bend your arms, and go all the way down, and all the way back. Then, just as quickly as she had entered my workout-world, she was gone - Disappeared into the sea of machines, I suppose to go help some other poor lost soul.
I looked around at the people who had witnessed my correction, and noticed that they tried to act like they hadn't seen me so put in my place by the little old gym-rat. I thought about how to proceed, and weighed the options - I could run crying like a third grade girl - I could fall over and fake some sort of seizer that would surely explain my lack of understanding how to properly use the machine -I could keep doing it the way I was, wrong as it had been - Or, now here's a thought, I could listen to the old gal and correct my ways and start from scratch doing it right. I chose the latter... and got a really good ab workout.
I guess that's the choice we all have in life - There are times when we are just not doing it correctly - And, if we're blessed enough, maybe we can have someone interrupt us just long enough to let us know we're not doing things right (or, maybe healthily). We can pretend they've hurt us, and cry to anybody who will listen - We can ignore them and keep doing the same things with the same results - Or, just maybe, we can wise up and listen to their counsel and correct our ways - As embarrassing as it may be, as awkward as we may feel - As inconvenient and offensive as it may seem - All in order to get on track and make use of this precious little thing we call life...
I'm thankful for my little old gym lady, and the many of her kind throughout my life who cared enough about me and my future to honestly say, You're doing that wrong... See the picture? Now here's how to do it better.
