Saturday, July 19, 2008

What hit me??

You would think that I took an advanced Pilates class by the way I feel. But no, it was just a one hour horse-riding lesson - very basic horse riding lesson. Sitting behind a desk for too many years has taken its toll on my body. I think I hear it saying, "You're too old for this! Please just take up knitting or cross stitching instead!".

The kids make it look so easy. And they never complain that they are sore after a lesson. My trainer suggested that I pretend to post at home to get into shape for it.
If you want to get the exercise of horse riding without the fees associated with it, you can do the following:

1.Pick a wide chair in your house -- one that does not have arms...maybe a dining room table chair.
2.Put a pillow in the chair to make it a little wider, like it has a saddle and saddle pad. Go ahead and sit down...get a little comfortable. I did say to straddle the chair didn't I? Face the back of the chair and pretend the back of the chair is the horses neck/head.
3. Now, pretend your horse is trotting and start posting.
4. Up
5. Down
6. Up...Down
7. Barely sit down before you go up again.
8. That's it....Up, down, up, down....you're doing great. If it gets too much for you, you can sit, but don't get up. Just rest for a few minutes, then do it again.
9. Come on, just another 45 minutes left. Then, you too, can feel like I do! That is, only if you are as out of shape as I am.

Just try it....misery loves company. And, who knows....tomorrow just might be your day to ride a horse! You will be ready.