Barbara J. Hamby

sign-up for our email list

Road Rage/Pilates

Today I drove to Fred Meyer in Tualatin, from Tigard, a short drive, but usually pretty stressful because of traffic. The lack of traffic and the mellow drivers who were out today inspired me to wonder if road rage perpetrators abound among football fans. I could speculate on this theory at length, but will let you decide what you think about it.

I’ve been hearing about Pilates and the large exercise balls that are supposed to perform miracles (only if you actually use them), so I bought myself a present today: a massage ball with a hand pump and a Pilates video tape. After pumping interminably on the little hand air pump that came with the package, Al gave up and finished the inflation with the air compressor. He probably would have used it sooner, but he realized that he was getting an upper body workout using the little pump.

Because of my age, size, and out-of-shape condition, I plan to go very slowly. I can warm up with a few of the easier Pilates floor exercises, and gradually try the more simple exercises using the ball. A warm, friendly ball seems much easier to use here at home than to go to the clubhouse or the gym and use exercise machines.

Exercise is a typical New Year’s resolution that often falls by the wayside very quickly. So nag me with an email if you don’t hear about my staying “on the ball,” the exercise ball, that is.