Aquajock
Cathlete
My beloved brother Stephen died.
I only learned this sad news about 24 hours ago, and I and my family, spread out across the country and indeed across the globe, are pulling together to sustain each other emotionally and to perform the sad but necessary tasks attendant with laying a loved one to rest. This morning, despite having had almost no meaningful sleep and having three more conversations awash in tears, grief and love with family, I took a slice out of time and . . . worked out to one of my beloved Cathe workouts, because I desperately needed to expel some of the stress of the day and the night before. I did one of my favorites, one that I have done a million times before, because I needed the comfort of familiar things, including Cathe's reliable challenge and smile.
This is a strange way to commence a note expressing my everlasting gratitude to Cathe, I know. But in great part because of Cathe, exercise has not only become my means of staying physically healthy, but also staying emotionally healthy, in the short term as well as the lifelong haul.
I don't know what strange alchemy goes into the successful match of instructor and participant, teacher and pupil. I do know that I have found that alchemy with Cathe Friedrich. She has taught me a deep, abiding knowledge of how the body works in motion, and how to work that body so that it can be empowered, and she has done so by providing the practical tools, the essence of learning by doing.
When I was a group fitness instructor, I often encouraged my own participants to use exercise as a means of coping with the emotional demands of daily life as well as a means of physical fitness. I often said, "When you feel strong physically, you feel stronger emotionally." Well . . . with Cathe's help, I learned the truth of my own little nostrum all over again today. Although my grief is still terrible, I know I have the strength again to do the work I still need to do with my family for my brother.
As long as there is a Cathe Friedrich there will be an A-Jock. Cathe, I do thank you for everything past and present. I don't have the heart to start Shock Cardio right now, because I do not want to associate it with this time of sorrow. But I am deeply grateful for it, and for all of your other productions that lend such a fun and healthy dimension to my life. Take care, sweetie, and thanks again.
And to my beloved Stephen - rest in peace. I love you, brother.
Annette
I only learned this sad news about 24 hours ago, and I and my family, spread out across the country and indeed across the globe, are pulling together to sustain each other emotionally and to perform the sad but necessary tasks attendant with laying a loved one to rest. This morning, despite having had almost no meaningful sleep and having three more conversations awash in tears, grief and love with family, I took a slice out of time and . . . worked out to one of my beloved Cathe workouts, because I desperately needed to expel some of the stress of the day and the night before. I did one of my favorites, one that I have done a million times before, because I needed the comfort of familiar things, including Cathe's reliable challenge and smile.
This is a strange way to commence a note expressing my everlasting gratitude to Cathe, I know. But in great part because of Cathe, exercise has not only become my means of staying physically healthy, but also staying emotionally healthy, in the short term as well as the lifelong haul.
I don't know what strange alchemy goes into the successful match of instructor and participant, teacher and pupil. I do know that I have found that alchemy with Cathe Friedrich. She has taught me a deep, abiding knowledge of how the body works in motion, and how to work that body so that it can be empowered, and she has done so by providing the practical tools, the essence of learning by doing.
When I was a group fitness instructor, I often encouraged my own participants to use exercise as a means of coping with the emotional demands of daily life as well as a means of physical fitness. I often said, "When you feel strong physically, you feel stronger emotionally." Well . . . with Cathe's help, I learned the truth of my own little nostrum all over again today. Although my grief is still terrible, I know I have the strength again to do the work I still need to do with my family for my brother.
As long as there is a Cathe Friedrich there will be an A-Jock. Cathe, I do thank you for everything past and present. I don't have the heart to start Shock Cardio right now, because I do not want to associate it with this time of sorrow. But I am deeply grateful for it, and for all of your other productions that lend such a fun and healthy dimension to my life. Take care, sweetie, and thanks again.
And to my beloved Stephen - rest in peace. I love you, brother.
Annette
