I've Never Been Much for the Gym | Five-Minute Freewrite

What you see in this image may not look like much. It's a squash court. For those unfamiliar, squash like similar to tennis and is also called racquetball. The game is fast-paced and involves two player or two pairs rapidly smashing a small, very bouncy ball against the walls of the room.

Back in the mid-2000s, I was a member of the Lifestyle Family Fitness chain of gyms, that among other amenities​, had a few squash courts.

I was very concerned with being fit, but no matter how hard I tried, lifting weights and using strength-training machines could not hold my interest. I'd usually devolve into stretching and contorting in the aerobics room, wishing I had more space to move.

One day, I looked over and saw an empty squash court, with a big, slick open space floored like the gymnasiums I was used to performing in as a twirler and lyrical dancer. I vowed that next time, I'd bring some jazz shoes and go for it.

Walking into that squash court changed my relationship with the gym.

This room became my personal dance studio. Armed with a portable speaker and an iPhone 3G, I established my own personal dance training schedule. I'd practice aerobic exercises, go through complex stretching and movement routines, and end my workouts with free dance.

Next time you're at your own gym or yoga studio, consider giving yourself time and space to free dance. To engage in bonafide free dancing, you need only:

1. Turn on music, either on a speaker or through secure wireless headphones.
2. Start to move your body - fluidly, awkwardly, on the ground or jumping through the air.
3. Lose yourself in the physical expression.

_{Image from Inverness Squash Courts}

Hi, I'm Amelia! It's nice to meet you.

I'm a writer, minimalist, tiny home dweller, and maker living in East Tennessee, USA. You might have found me through the Ladies of Steemit curation initiative, showcasing the female voices on the Steemit platform. Let's hang out on the blockchain and see where it takes us.

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^{art and flair courtesy of @PegasusPhysics}