I know well that stepping outside my comfort zone can be rewarding. Once you take the step, you realise it wasn’t that hard at all. But in this case I was about as comfortable as a rooster in a pond.
I believe it may have been invented by a round table conference involving the CIA, Mossad, The KGB and MI6.
The latest bugging device? No. Poison lipstick? No. A new undeniably persuasive interrogation technique? No.
Well what is the fiendish collaboration?
Pilates!
As a bit of an ‘old school’ trainer from years of playing footy, cricket and soccer, I was pretty much a weights, jog (now walk) and swim kind of guy. This regime had me in reasonable shape and I had only increased my body weight by about five kilos over that last 25 years.
Yes, I was in a fitness comfort zone.
One day the love of my life, not Paul Gallen, my wife Karen, came home sprouting about her newfound (and adored) fitness regime – Pilates.
I giggled (on the inside because I like a peaceful existence) and said, “That’s nice dear that you like it.” I didn’t know much about Pilates and thought it was another form of yoga or ‘lady stretching’. I was doing the grunt work in the gym, pumping out reps and sets.
“You should have a go at it, you would love it.” She said. “Sure, maybe, I’ll see” was my offhanded response each time Karen mentioned I should get on board. She spoke of the little, but ‘fit’ Columbian instructor, Ivan, who was reshaping her body and making her feel really good.
After using the, ‘are you chicken or what?’ encouragement sale technique, I cracked and said, “Alright, I’ll go and meet Ivan for a session, a bit of stretching and that will be good for me and a bit of variation.”
One afternoon, I gave myself an hour off to meet Ivan and see what this Pilates thing was all about. Lovely guy – small, trim with a toothy smile and an accent reminiscent of Gloria from Modern Family.
After about 10-15 minutes of re-learning how to breath and ‘contract your core’ (a phrase that haunts me), Ivan the nice little Columbian guy, became Ivan The Terrible!
Holy ‘What Muscle is that Batman’!!!!
For the next 45 mins I was asked to do moves and exercises that were devised as torture moves for the agencies I mentioned at the start of this story. The noises coming out of me ranged between ‘wounded moose’ and ‘howling dog’. Who talked me into this shit?! I think I called Ivan an arsehole more times in that first one hour session than I have said ‘arsehole’ referring to Manly players at every Sharks match they have ever played against each other.
I asked Ivan if he knew Pablo Escobar, but he ignored me, smiled and say , “Contract the core…” The wounded moose could be heard up the main street.
After the first couple of sessions, walking became problematic for Ivan’s new student. Walking down stairs, I looked like there was a 3 foot rod stuck fair in my backside, with my legs made out of Aeroplane Jelly. Karen’s mirth could only be described as manic.
I was way out of my comfort zone, but Ivan kept telling me that the results would come. I kept going back for more…”Breeeeathing, contractions…and that is five…”
“HANG ON, I counted seven already”
“Thee first wons you weren’t breeeathing properly”
“Arsehole”
“Five, breeeathing contractions….”
I am seriously out of my comfort zone and the results are brilliant. I haven’t lost a lot of weight, but my pants are loose around my waist. I have put on muscle and a long term and nagging shoulder problem is slowly improving.
I’m hooked and Ivan is becoming more and more terrible, in a nice way.
All through life we face challenges or are asked to step outside our own comfort zone. Taking that initial step, especially with someone coaching and supporting you, is so rewarding and gives you confidence to take on more challenges.
It is like selling your home. You can stay in an uncomfortable comfort zone and hire a traditional agent, pay thousands and feel a little deflated at the end, feel no different. Or you can take a small leap of faith, take control, sell your own home with support and a gentle ‘stretching’ from an online agency like Agent in a Box, and feel great about what you achieved.
Just taking that first step is nothing compared to the results you end up with. I did it, explored something a bit foreign to me and now the benefits far outweigh the effort.
You are safe. We’ll leave the torture to Ivan The Terrible. Our support never produces the sounds of a wounded moose, just happy members who took a little leap and have been rewarded handsomely.
