Since my heart attack earlier this year I have been regularly attending the gym in an effort to get my body fit and healthy again.
Twice a week I have a session with a Personal Trainer who carefully assesses the improvements I am making and sets out exercises I can do to further improve my fitness.
I also attended a twelve-session rehabilitation course at the Chermside Community Health Centre in Hamilton Road, Chermside at the The Prince Charles Hospital. This gave me insights into other sets of exercises which could help me.
I have tried to make sure I get to the Gym at least five or six days per week. My “Home” gym is the Active Life Fitness Centre in Chinook Street, Everton Hills. (See http://www.activelifefitness.com.au/evertonhills/ and https://www.facebook.com/activelifefitnessevertonhills/ ) There Olivia and Kim the managers and the other staff all cheerfully greet me by name every time I come in; it really makes me feel at home being greeted like this. The whole reception staff at the gym are worth their weight in gold!
However, as I type this post, I find myself 1,729 km away from home by the shortest practical driving route (or so my Maps program tells me) and I have been here since 9th June – thirteen days. What could I do about my gym work while I was away from home?
Before I left Brisbane, I researched a few gyms around Geelong on the Internet and tried ringing a few of them on the phone. Most didn’t even answer their phones! Of the two gyms that did bother answering their phones, I was very impressed by a lady named Tamara Vella, who patiently answered all my hesitant questions and encouraged me to come and see the gym as soon as I could when I got to Geelong. This gym was Anytime Fitness located in the Westfield Shopping Centre in Malop Street, Geelong. (See https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessGeelong and http://anytimefitness.com.au/gyms/AU-1193/gym-Geelong-Victoria-fitness-center ). I also spoke on the phone to the staff of another gym located in West Geelong.
The gym in West Geelong was much closer to my Mother’s home in Bell Park, so I went there first. I knew I was in trouble the moment I got off the bus: I had to wait for absolute ages before I could cross Pakington Street, because the traffic was too heavy and there were no traffic lights anywhere near the gym to cause breaks in the traffic, and me being in my seventieth year am not quite as quick and nimble as I used to be when I was younger. When I eventually got across the road I discovered that the gym was all locked up and that no staff would be in attendance for another couple of hours. I crossed the road again and caught the next bus in to the CBD. I walked to the gym in Malop Street where I was cheerfully greeted by Tamara. She remembered my phone call from two days earlier and we sat down and worked out the details of a temporary membership. Tamara took me around the gym to show me all of its amenities and equipment.
Thereafter, each day when I went in, Tamara cheerfully greeted me by name. It makes me feel good when somebody remembers my name. It somehow helps me to feel welcome. I observed that she also similarly greeted all of the other members as they came in. This young lady is truly a tremendous asset to her employers.
During my workouts I could feel my body becoming stronger: my performance on the exercise bike was measurably better and my inclined push-ups on the Smith Machine improved every day.
Today was my last day at the gym in Malop street and it seemed almost sad to be saying goodbye to Tamara this afternoon. During my last workout there I spoke with some of the other customers who were also very encouraging to me.
I suppose I had begun my journey somewhat apprehensive of going to a strange gym where nobody would know me. As it turned out, I need not have worried at all. As the Bible says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rom.8.28.nkjv