Exercise Teacher: Good morning to you all. O.K. ladies, let's
get going. We're here to work. Step Touch four, three,
two...We've got to get those hearts pumping. Yes, Saraleh,
you wanted to tell us something?
Saraleh: Well...yesterday, again that nudnick came knocking
on my door. You know, the one who comes collecting money and
has to tell me her whole long sob story."
Ladies: Yes...
Saraleh: Normally I just give a couple of shekels, wish her
good luck, and close the door while she is in mid- sentence .
. .
Ladies: Yes...
Saraleh: Well, this time I actually listened to what she had
to say. I really couldn't help her with all her problems, but
I saw how much better it made her feel just to have someone
actually listen.
Exercise Teacher: Good going. I see that you've really
expanded those heart muscles. Kol Hakavod. O.K.
ladies, we had a nice warm-up.. Now it's time to increase our
flexibilty. Stretch your arms and legs like this. One, two,
three, stretch... Yes, Rivki.
Rivki: Here's something about flexibility. I know that at
times I'm too rigid with the kids. It seems like I'm always
saying no. Well, on Shabbos, the kids asked if we could save
dessert and eat it in the afternoon as a treat instead. I was
about to say, "No. A meal is a meal and shouldn't be divided
up," and then I thought, "Why not?" So instead, we had a nice
little dessert party in the middle of Shabbos afternoon.
Everyone was so relaxed and happy. We really had a good
time.
Exercise Teacher: Very good, Rivki! See what happens when we
extend ourselves just a little bit. Ladies, you have got to
exert yourselves. That's the name of the game. No pain, no
gain. You want to build strong bodies. Yes, Leah, you want to
say something?
Leah: You want to hear about strength? Listen to this. Here I
was in the supermarket. I was basically in line, when along
comes Mrs. X and takes her shopping cart and rams it right in
front of mine. This is far from being the first time she's
done this sort of thing. I was boiling. I think I could have
taken out my tomatoes and started pelting her with them, I
was so angry. I took a deep breath, counted to ten, took
another deep breath and said in my calmest voice possible,
"I'm sure you didn't realize it, but I was in line before
you. Do you think you could go in back of me?" Mrs. X turned
a bit red and said, "Certainly." Then she took her cart in
back of me.
Exercise Teacher: Fantastic! You've really increased your
strength! Way to go! O.K. ladies, keep moving. We've got
build up our endurance. We don't want to be left without the
stamina to keep on going. You know what they say, "When
things are tough, the tough keep going." Did you want to tell
us something, Rachel?
Rachel: Endurance. I know all about endurance. Any given
morning in my house could qualify for a medical stress test.
Getting six kids out of the house on time is definitely an
exercise in endurance. There is at least one kid who can't
find his shoes or a nursery bag. Notes to be signed, one of
the girls is bound to have a bug or two to be picked out of
her hair. Six sandwiches need to be made and except for
chocolate spread, no two kids like the same thing; same goes
with the choice of fruit. The baby will inevitably dump
cereal and milk all over herself just after she's been
changed. I have to remind the kids to brush their teeth, make
their beds, and clean up their rooms. The little kids have to
be ready in time for the big kids to take them.
It all gets done somehow, but I felt like I sounded like a
drill seargent, barking orders every moment. I really wanted
to make a more joyful way to start off the day.
Ladies: Yes....
Rachel: Well, it hasn't been easy. Old habits are hard to
break, but I guess I've made some progress because this
morning, on her way out the door, my four-year-old came over
to me and said, "Your the bestest Mommie in the whole
world."
Everyone: Hurray! Three Cheers!
Exercise Teacher: O.K. ladies, there you have it: heart,
flexibility, strength, and endurance. These are key
ingredients for good health. Keep up the good work. We'll be
seeing each other next time and in the meantime keep on
exercising. Bye.
