Testimony: I like sports, but…

… Only when it suits me

“The benefits of sports are well established, except, to see the effects, we must practice regularly. This is where I get stuck. I already have difficulties planning a movie night with my friends as is, so I only attend a Zumba or cycling class when it suits my schedule. Generally, I go to a class once a week at lunchtime, unless it’s raining or a handsome stranger offers to have lunch with me. Sometimes, it’s less than once a week. I like to exercise, but seeing all these girls and these narcissistic guys who love to admire themselves in the mirrors in the class, I feel uneasy. I hope to find the ideal sport, one that will not bore me. Recently, I’ve discovered the ‘smart market’, filled with people who are interested in botany, landscape and cultural heritage. I find more pleasure and meaning there.”

… I have enough commitments

Harmonie, 39 years old, ecology engineer.

“I look at sports with high regard, especially when I watch the competitions on TV, on my sofa, eating chocolate. Skiing, marathons, Olympics sports, the Tour de France, I love them all. I have great admiration for the athletes and I vicariously enjoy their thrill from my living room. Note that I’m not lazy. I like biking and I have a brand new one… but it’s sleeping in the cellar. One of my buddies biked through the Lubéron area and I hope to do the same one day. In the meantime, I do Pilates once a week. It’s nowhere as thrilling but at least it’s within my capacity. Yet when I list my resolutions, learning a hard thing has always come to mind, like running, riding, tennis. But this would require too much effort, not to mention I already have my share of stress, objectives, and competition at work. If only these exciting activities can add pleasure to my life, that would be great!”

… Only swimming, and it’s much better in Maldives !

Camille, 46 years old, food production responsible. 

“Breaststroke, butterfly style, or freestyle, I have always loved the water. I dive too. I was born in the Maldives and that explains it. The problem is that I can not go back to Maldives to swim each week but I haven’t found a decent pool in my area that suits me. Either the water is too cold, or the chlorine smell is too strong, etc. Even the beaches in the summer don’t make me want to take a dip. After a while, I just gave up. But my osteoporosis condition encourages me to resume physical activity anyway, to loosen my joints and also to lose weight. I thought of yoga. By browsing the web, I saw that there are many kinds of it, bikram yoga, ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, etc. I don’t have difficulties going to them but I just miss Maldives, that’s all.”

… I’ve reached my limit

Maud, 34 years old, junior banking analyst.

“I love sports and you can even say I’m a sports junkie.  I have tried almost everything offered in the club, excluding team sports. I also tested the apps as Runtastic Six Pack with 3D avatars and Daniel and Angie showing the exercises. I like running and participating in challenges for the adrenaline. It makes me more fired up at job. All cardio sports have a hovering effect that is divine. I recently wanted to get into something new for myself: the cross fit. This outdoor sports is often led by martial arts champions. I was even tempted to join Mud Day, an event where we have to pass obstacles in the mud. Unfortunately, I reached my limit when we were asked to do 300 consecutive abs on a motocross track (no floor mats, direct contact with the concrete coating). The skin covering my tailbone was all burned! I’m not Lucy or Scarlett Johansson. I’m going to stop running and it’s a conscious decision. I’m going to try something classic, such as judo. That’s not too bad, right?”

… Never without friends

Juliette, 42 years old, art therapist.

“I alternate periods of intensive training (running, fitness indoors), with periods or more relaxed workouts. I have aches and I even once had a muscle tear during a body combat. I rushed to the doctor and I was advised to rest. My motivation fluctuates depending on my physical strength but also my load of work or family constraints. Most importantly, it changes according to the availability of my girlfriends. I have this team spirit where I never go without them! If one cancels, then a domino effect ensues where others bail too. And the idea of going alone — exercising my buttocks muscles, my abs… blah. Doing three laps of running around the lake, panting along, iPod blasting in my ears… blah. What I like in sports anyway, is the following: the sauna with girlfriends, giggles and the lunch that follows… “

Valérie Rodrigue

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