keep fit session

I should add that I can use my brain in my French and computer classes!

I go to a keep-fit class for the over 55s, and most of us are way over this. We do mostly the same exercises each week to music and it is very enjoyable. At the end of the class, each joint has been exercised and stretched. I think it's better to repeat the same things as you improve on them, and I wouldn't want to keep changing as I'd just get confused.

I seem to be flexible along my spine but not from side to side, twisting defeats me, as does standing on one leg and swinging the other one. I end up holding the bar that goes along one side of the studio

Zumba instructors don't speak they just use their hands to show you what way to go

Never heard of this Anniemac 101 the Zumba classes I've been to in the past and the Zumba gold I go to now the instructor does plenty of talking and laughing with us.

Although I started my training sessions to get fit.....for a rather adventurous holiday, I did in fact slowly and without dieting loose 2 stone over 18 months. It was a subtle mixture of feeling fitter and stronger and therefore more confident coupled with a little voice in my head saying....'do you really need that 2nd biscuit?'. Exercise, if done well will tone you and help you to loose weight. Increased muscle mass helps burn the cake and although you do not loose it dramatically (that's usually water anyway) you do drop dress sizes.
Two years ago I was in M&S size 18 I am now usually a 14 even a 12 if the style suits....so yes exercise does shift the lumps!

Yorkshiregal , no one has mentioned `fat` . I assume the op is going to the class to be fitter not thinner !

What a great result and well done for telling her. I've just started a Pilates class run by a physiologist, others have been going for years. After the first week I sent a wee e mail saying I was stiff and sore and would do a lower level next week cos I did enjoy the class. She was great last night and gave us different levels and reinforced we did one we wanted.

Although walking is good for you I don't think this kind of exercise is unless you enjoy it.

My doctor says it is not lack of exercise that makes you fat, exercise just keeps you fit. What you put in your mouth is what makes you fat.

If you want fun, go to one of these classes and make friends. If you just want to watch your weight watch what you put in to your mouth.

'friend' sigh - can't type today

Teetime - glad you clarified it was Zumba for the over 50's - I went to one class with a much younger and nearly needed oxygen!

M0nica Just read your explanation of the up on the shoulders thing, I'm still trying to work it out, sounds like you are very flexible, bet you are good at Twister!!!

Why wouldn't you quietly mention to the instructor after class that not only you are struggling to keep up with her fancy moves, but you have noticed other people are struggling too and that this part of the class is becoming a test of endurance and not a pleasure!

Fitness instructors - regardless of what they teach - like to think that their "following" come to their classes because they enjoy their teaching style. Suggesting the instructor modifies some of the activities she dreams up is a way to her give constructive criticism and would assist her in the long run to make the class more enjoyable for all concerned. After all I am assuming you are paying for the privilege of taking her class and that you are a regular member and you know that not only you but other ladies find it too much of a challenge. Please stand up for yourself in a quiet yet respectful way so you don't finish up abandoning the class altogether.

Come to our Pilates class, Jayanna9040 you certainly wouldn't be out of place. We are all at different stages, there's a variety of ages and ability. It's friendly and noone cares what you wear nor what level you're at except for the instructor! The instructor brings her delightful little dog who's so well behaved and seems to know if you're feeling a bit down. I've never felt so 'cared for' yet challenged in an exercise class and neither have I enjoyed one so much.

Phew! I'm relieved I'm not the only one who has this problem. It's taken me 70 years to realise that I'm totally unco-ordinated. Still good fun though ..,,

I do Zumba,aerobics and stretch and dance classes. We are all over fifties and do the routines at different paces. No one bothers,our instructors say do what you can its your class. Zumba instructors don't speak they just use their hands to show you what way to go. After you've been for a while you'll find out that you do get bored doing the same routine to the same music that's why it's good to change the routines. Just go and enjoy and you'll soon get used to it. I'm off to Zumba now!

Overthehill
Do your own thing. Your class is for health benefits and you will always find there are those who take it far too seriously. Give it time but enjoy what you are doing.Its your life.

so pleased to see that it's not just me struggling to keep up! I also frequently don't know my right from my left and end up going the opposite way to everyone else. I really enjoy the classes and no one minds the odd mishaps that everyone seems to make

Brilliant overthehill.......and the social side of your class sounds lovely, and is almost as important as the physical...we all need like minded souls to chat with!

Jayanna, I am dyspraxic (officially 'labelled' slow and clumsy with poor balance). That is why I do pilates, to try and improve or at least stop my balance from deterioration.

In my class we are all far too busy concentrating on our exercises/watching the instructor to check exactly what we are meant to be doing to notice what other people are doing. I regularly get hopelessly confused or fail to do all the actions in the right order.

I cannot say it bothers me. Even if some one did see me and think me hopelessly incompetent, so what? Keeping myself fit and well as I get older is far more important than what anyone else thinks about me at an exercise class.

HildaW after reading the comments on here had a rethink. The class has a lot I like, it is a walk away I like the other things we do there plus some of the other women go for a coffee afterwards and invited me along so I got to know them a bit better.

I took the bull by the horns and sent our instructor a carefully worded email explaining my problems and asked if she would consider more repetition of the moves go help me and others master them.

She came back with a lovely response saying she was glad to have feedback and would certainly amend the program to take this into account.

I don't go to this sort of thing because of the embarrassment of being so hopelessly uncoordinated. Oh for a class for the slow and clumsy!

Our Pilates routine varies from week to week. But, warming up and cooling down aside I am beginning to recognise many of the exercises even if they only come up every month or so.

overthehill, if its not just you then I think we can pretty much say your instructor is not doing a decent job. I'd start to look around for another class if you don't want to have a word on your own perhaps chat to the others and see if a joint approach is a good idea).
That being said one of the best ways of having exercise that needs the brain is to take up some form of dance. I belong to a rather old fashioned dance school (despite my misgivings but OH loves it so heyho!) and there are many seemingly gentle sequence dances that really do some good. It aids balance, co-ordination as well as putting all sorts of muscles through their paces AND you need your brain to follow the music and learn the steps. If you want to get some speed up then I swear a good old fashioned quick step will do a lot more than a lot of random jumping up and down.
Separate to this I did try a ballet class for older novices that used a Pilates warm up and I really enjoyed it. It was perfect for all shapes and sizes and ages and I would have loved to continue it but unfortunately being out in the sticks here there were not enough of us to make it feasible. I believe in more urban areas they are getting more popular.

I do Pilates too but it's in a class of 5-6 and everyone has their own regime. It took me a long while to remember how many springs and how many movements to do for each exercise and now I'm progressing onto more strengthening exercises I'm having to remember new things. Our teacher has the patience of Job and I'm not the oldest in the class which makes a change - and there's men too of all ages. I love it. I also swim as I can't walk far at the moment and set myself a target which I sometimes forget as I'm bowling along which is annoying!!!

I have been doing Pilates for the last few months and the routine is difficult every week. Yes, I do get a bit lost now and again but, even if I temporally have my back to the instructor I watch the other class participants around me and follow what they are doing.

I do a standard Pilates class, although I think most class participants are around retirement age. Last week our instructor had us up on our shoulders, supporting our backs with our hands and trying to get our feet touching the ground beyond our heads, many succeeded. I didn't quite but felt, not unexpectedly, quite pleased with myself, given that I am 73.