Chair Fitness

There’s a new trend in exercise that seems to be catching on. It’s called chair fitness. You may not have heard about this. It’s where you complete an entire workout while seated in a chair. If this is news to you, you’re not alone. I had been completely unaware that this form of exercise even existed until the day I picked up a brochure for the recreation center I had just joined, and there it was - a list of “chair classes.” You could choose chair yoga, chair aerobics, or chair zumba. I chose chair aerobics and registered for the class.

Not entirely sure what to expect, I walked into the classroom the first day and looked around. Although I am no spring chicken, I could clearly see that I was by far the youngest one in the class. The whole thing was now making sense. These classes were designed for people who might be at risk for falling if they engaged in vigorous physical exercise while standing. This thought had occurred to me, but I also wondered if it might possibly be for people who wanted to work out, but were just too tired. I was neither, but I decided to stay and try it anyway.

Here’s how it worked. We all strolled into the room and grabbed one of the folding chairs propped up against the back wall. Then we each picked a spot and set up our chairs facing the front of the room where the teacher sat waiting patiently. When everyone was ready, she reached down, punched a button on a boom box, and 50s era music filled the room. She then led us in a series of semi energetic but very precise arm movements. We waved our arms up and down, back and forth, in and out.  I felt like I was training to be navy flight deck signalman. 

After about 15 minutes, she turned the music off and said it was time to stop for a cool down. Cool down? Apparently, she didn’t want anyone to become overheated and sweaty. When everyone was sufficiently rested, she turned the music back on and we started up again, only this time she added toe taps and cancan style leg kicks. After another 15 minutes, she wrapped everything up with another “cool down” and turned off the 50s music. 

We had begun putting our chairs away when a very elderly woman approached me and said in an extremely stern tone of voice, “Honey, you don’t belong in this class.“ I half expected her to tell me not to come back, but she didn’t, so I just nodded. I chose to take it as a compliment.