This weekend, the best thing that happened to me was going to not one, but TWO classes at Gerdahallen (the university gym)! I went to my second Gympa class ever, which is a mix of aerobics, dancing, and weight lifting. It’s in a big gymnasium room, and it was me and my friends and nearly 30 or 40 other people, mostly older than 40. The ridiculously buff female instructor was just as enthusiastic as the one from before, shouting (what I think was) up-beat encouragement (in Swedish). I felt the burn and I liked it! For anyone looking for a fun (and entertaining) workout, go to Gympa.
The second class was an introduction to styrke yoga (”power” or ”strength” yoga). It was in another large gymnasium room, but this time instead of loud dance music, we were surrounded by darkness, flickering candles, and soothing music (apart from an intense organ piece, which seemed out of place but that I really enjoyed). I think the instructor had one of the most soothing voices I’ve ever heard. I’ve never tried yoga but people have always said I would like it. Yeah, I was good, but I think I missed an essential part because I couldn’t understand anything (again) and I’ve heard the breathing instructions are integral to improvement. I was shaking from exhaustion in the ”plank” position, and we seemed to do a lot of ”downward dog.” Apparently I missed the memo to bring your personal fleece blanket with fringe, so during the end I wasn’t able to form my own cocoon of comfort as we lay on the floor. But, considering that I’ve been stressed out, mildly depressed, and exhausted lately, these classes were much-appreciated.
