Side-Effects

Back in early winter I started a program to build up some muscle groups that have been overlooked- namely the core muscles of abs and back. I started out with yoga. It was neat and a lot of fun. But the back problems I have were not helpful since most the poses and movements were standing. While I felt some benefit, the negatives were out-weighing the positives.

So I switched to Pilates. (No, not as I first thought, the name of the Roman Procurator of Jesus' time.) Actually it was mat pilates which meant that it was not standing up- at all. It is slow and truly does focus 100% on the core and peripheral muscles. It was a slow process but I kept at it. I began to notice that some of the stretches got a little easier. Three or four days a week I went to the pilates class over lunch.

Then one thing happened. Yesterday. At the end of the session when checking our limber-ness I reached over- and touched the floor with my finger-tips.

I realized that I am getting more limber (although the waist size doesn't seem to be going down.) I also realized that one of the most significant side-effects of all this will hopefully be an easier recovery from surgery in three weeks. I promised myself that I will do everything I can on this side of surgery to ease the recovery so I can get back on the bicycle as soon as possible when the weather warms up.

But there was one other un-intended side effect. Monday night at band practice I realized that my trumpet playing has changed. Part of it was that I seemed to have more power behind the sound- and as a result I didn't get tired as quickly. I guess it is true that when we begin to get in shape a lot of positive things can happen.