Elsey Curtis – I-Jumpin’!

January 27, 2012 By: Laurie Curtis

Laurie Curtis

Hennie's Workout

As for equipment, no steel bars, rough straps, hard mats, or dusty exercise balls were anywhere evident.  Instead, the entire workout room was alive with bright and cushy, made-to-order gear for jumping, rolling, climbing, sliding, or maybe floating– as in a pool of super-sized ping-pong balls.  When the instructors brought out multiple swings to hang onto hooks attached to the ceiling, I imagined my face turning green as I suddenly yearned for swing time at our club.

Observing the myriad activities available for gym patrons was like watching a three-ring circus. Balloon bopping appeared to be a hit (!) all around with the little ones. During their adventure time, each budding athlete crawled over spongy hurdles and at separation (independent) time they played with puppets or stuffed animals.  Instructors visibly hustled to change up the pace or provide new props every few minutes.  What was not to appreciate about the jazzy, interactive songs at good-bye time?  Nada en absoluto! 

No wonder Hennie loves her gym where development of social interaction and physical fitness skills are equally emphasized.  An unexpected carry-over effect is that with plenty of jumping time elsewhere, Hennie no longer races up to her room at dull moments during the day to jump on the bed.  But just in case her weekly workouts are less than adequate, she can always drop by our condo.  Her grandfather and I now keep a mini-trampoline somewhat hidden under a coffee table ready to pull out whenever she or her cousins stop in for a visit.

Thanks to Hennie, I’ve re-learned “Jumping is Joyful” as well as a useful rule to apply while at Brickbodies: “Have Fun, It’s Important.”  BTW and just for the record, Chip and I as proud grandparents will always remember the two words Hennie enthusiastically sequenced together in speaking her first sentence: “I-jumpin’!”