An Assortment of Classes

[Omigoodness, I must be getting old. I suddenly found out today (28th Feb) that I forgot to post this drafted post up]

Last week probably has been my most "diverse" in terms of instructors within a week. On Wednesday, I attended IFKAS's (instructor formerly known as sidekick) combat. The gym seemed a bit quiet, overall, and it wasn't until later that I found out it was coz Lionheart was in Bangkok.

At first it also looked like it was going to be a rather empty class, but people trickled in, and there were a number of familiar faces, like Soo Chin, whom I haven't been in a class with for over a year. Age plus the accumulation of calories over chinese new year, plus laziness, made for a very tiring class. IFKAS tried a selection of new and old tracks.

On Friday, it was Body Step with WWPMC. (Woman Who Popped My Cherry....Les Mills Cherry that is). Still no flicker of recognition from her. Anyway, it was a great class. I mean, she is afterall a very experienced step instructor, and her cueing all crisp, and clear.

Saturday, I get a call from Lionheart, asking me if I was coming for 2ndFSI's class, as Sunshine wanted to know. I was rushing around, busy as a blue arsed fly, so wasn't sure I could make it, but thank God for the Penchala Link, which got me from my doorstep to Curve in 10 minutes. Also with the current hike in parking in the Curve, its a lot easier to park.

Sunshine concluded that 2nd FSI had improved by leaps and bounds since the first time she tried him. Smooth, clear, and natural. Well, I told her I had always found this to be so, hence bestowing upon him the title of 2ndFSI.

In an unusual display of strength, I also stayed on for Leon's Combat (which was the main reason for me going anyway). Well, these old bones aint gonna get younger, and it was certainly exhausting to do two cardio classes back to back. And the tracks seemed very long. Back in the UK seemed to drag on forever. Apparently he made some choreo boo boos, but the class looked pretty unripe anyway, and probably didnt pick it up.

Monday was pump with YI as usual. Evil biceps and lunge track. I dunno why that particular lunge track was so murderous. YI is now no longer that Y, as he turned 20 recently. Happy Belated Birthday young man. Phew, at least now I no longer have friends in the "teenage" category.

And so the cycle begins again. Was going to go jogging on Wednesday, but dark skies caused me to end up in IFKAS' class yet again, prompting Soo Chin to comment, "oh, you're regular here now are you". Would have loved to have joined Lionheart for the Ironwomen Duet RPM..... but alas, time and stamina constraints......

I Guess When They Invite A Month In Advance....

The parking at the Curve these days, on weekends is RM3. Adding the two way toll via the Penchala Link, RM4, and fuel, about RM4, it looks like it's more expensive to go there than to go to any of these destinations.

But since Air Asia is unlikely to fly to IOI Mall anytime soon, I guess when Shades informed me a month ago that he would be replacing FDI on 16th February, my obvious reflex action response was, "sure, I'll be there"....afterall, one is spared the jet lag going to the Curve.

So, when I got an sms on Friday, or was it Saturday, asking if I was attending that class, momentarily amnesiac, I said, "huh"....then remembered a long ago promise. So, like a faithful acolyte, I made my way to the Curve. The carpark was surprisingly empty, I'm guessing a lot of parkers have moved to Ikano or Tesco or the road. The roadside parking is horrendously obstructive.

He said something about dedicating the class to You....Starting with If I were you, and ending with Because of You. He did clarify it was You and in You Kok Hoe, and not me. Anyway, his You medley was cut short (thankfully) because he was assessing Emma, that trainee instructor, with that fabulous hint of Irish accent. That is one lass you wouldn't want to mess around with. I liked her cueing, crisp and clear. Overall the class was very energetic, and fairly crowded as well.

Not having done combat for two weeks or so, I was winded after the warm up. Was surprised to see IFKAS (Instructor Formerly Known as Sidekick) there as well in the class.

Yesterday was pump as usual with YI. At first, there seemed like there were gonna be all but two students in the class. Fortunately more trickled in. As usual, very gusto-ic class by YI, full of exhorting shouts, that are a cross between a sergeant major barking orders and a man in the throes of wild unbridled sex. Very hard to describe.

Decided to add a princely 1kg extra weights for warm up, back track and triceps. Without Lion there, there was only one other person carrying heavier weights than me...well, it was a class of 6, 3 boys and 3 girls. And the instructor. Very balanced.

King Of The Jungle, Now King of The Gym

When the King holds court, he really holds court. A group of privileged few (translation : his regular instructors and gym kaki) were invited to Lion's birthday at Max Kitchen. For a food review, and pictures of food, go here.

Anyway, it was a great night of fantastic food, company, laughter, etc. Many thanks to Lionheart and his gracious wife for hosting such a feast.





It's always hard to return to the gym after Chinese New Year. The sheer weight of food amassed is like a prison ball, shackling you down to the very ground you trod, and the resistance faced going to the gym is like swimming upstream in a river of viscous treacle. The amount of yee sang consumed over this period makes you grateful it appears but once a year.

So much so, any little excuse is enough to sway the feeble mind from the path of most resistance. Slight muscle ache, or slight cough (we wouldn't want to infect our fellow gym members surely), or a flatulent stomach, all become very valid reasons for not dragging the sagging butt back to the gym. Anyway, finally on Wednesday, like a butterfly breaking free from its cocoon, I managed to make it to Horny's Pump. Was expecting the other iron lady to be there, but thankfully there was only one, but that didn't mean half the main. On the contrary, that darn biceps track, with the 24 singles finale, was a killer, as were the chest and lunge tracks. Lion was in the house. For some reason, I could hear in my mind, a resounding echo of "Oh Reech........could yew get me a boike please". (private joke) Noble intentions of doing pumbat dissipated like a dew drop in the sahara, as the excrutiating pain from the pump class rendered me semi paralysed.

Yesterday, I decided the old heart needed some pumping, to flush out the cholesterol build up, so went for Body Step. Noticed that FSI has relinquished the Thursday lunch time spot. EFF ASS AIIIII, come back, we need you!!! But ya, it wasn't the lunchtime class I went for, it was the 5.40pm one, previously taught by granny. (gosh, I only dare say these things coz I know the readership of this blog is quite limited).

PT turned Instructor was teaching, making it now my 3rd time attending his class. Well, I dunno if it was by chance, but I'm pretty sure 90% of the tracks were the same as the last class of his that I attended. Not that I am complaining. I actually quite like some of those tracks. Funky music is nice. And that speed track with the half stomps is also quite enjoyable. I didn't realise the extent of the pain from pump until we had to do pushups. Argh, I can feel my chest in pain.

Oh, Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone.