The Heat is ON!

Today I let many of you know that I am blogging. So now the heat is on to blog more frequently. I do suppose that is a good type of heat. There is nothing quite like peer pressure to help me do a good thing. Hmmm. That reminds me of a recent case of peer pressure - just yesterday.

I had been wanting to try something new. Not just anything, but a particular thing. It was something I had heard about numerous times but hadn't been adventurous enough to give it a try. My heart wanted to, but my mind, being so much more practical, had stopped me from the possibly painful experience.
I tried to get others to come along with me. I tried to make it sound very desirable, fun and exciting. But even with all my eagerness, I was unable to convince any of my friends to join in. They warned me, "I've heard it's really hard," "I hear it's addictive," and "I don't want to die." But would I listen? No way! It was one of those times where I was NOT giving into the peer pressure to just let the idea go. I HAD to try it.
The time was right. I had checked the schedules, I had responsible kids at home to be with the youngest so that I could sneak out of the house early. I awoke right on time - no alarm, just roosters (chickens and pheasants) calling in the day and the beautiful sunshine peeking through the blinds. I dressed in the appropriate attire and left the house out the garage door. There was no friend or foe to stop me now. I was doing it. There was no turning back!
When I reached my destination, I stowed my purse under the seat, grabbed my water bottle and carefully strolled to the front door.
Here I scanned my membership card and realized there was no way out. "I may die today," I thought as I scaled the stairs and entered the "spin room." Oh no - there was someone I knew. How could my yoga instructor be here? It was true, not only was she a yoga instructor, but she was the spinning class instructor too.
Needless to say - I survived. Yes, it was hard, but I survived. No death yesterday. All of you who said it shouldn't be done - If I can do it, you can do it. Don't try to be a spin expert the first time. Build up to it. But be aware of the peer pressure.
Here's where the peer pressure I am dealing with now came into play.
Today as I entered the room for my yoga class, Megan, my instructor and I visited for a moment. She was pleased to see me back in Yoga the day after my Spinning experience. I mentioned that my shoulders were really tight, as she had warned they may be, from the previous day's spin class. No big deal. We were a small class (only 2 today) so she suggested we could individualize the class a little. Then it happened. She said she knew my shoulders were tight and asked the other yoga-er if she needed to focus on any particular spot. SO, then we spent some extra time stretching shoulders - for me! Do you see what is happening here? She's helping me out, helping me to deal with the spin class, allowing me no excuse to not return to spin class. She knows I'll be back for yoga. So now will she expect to see me spinning again? There is the pressure - the peer pressure.
I thought I was safe to just, "try it once" - no big deal, I wouldn't get addicted after just one try. But, with the pressure there, I may try it again and maybe again and again. Who knows, Crystal may be right - it may be addictive, and then I'm toast, or rather, I'm spun. Will I give in to yet another spin class? I don't know. Only next week will tell.
But just as peer pressure can encourage one to be consistent with something good, such as blogging more often. It could also pressure one into exercising harder than necessary - which is bad, right? So be cautious when trying new things you've been warned against. There may be some other twist that you never expected.
But by all means - do give spinning a try. You don't have to die. You can simply push yourself hard for you and forget about trying to keep up with everybody else spinning along side you!