Chapter Seventeen: Fitness

On my 50th birthday, Bela said to me "since arriving in Montreal, you have been taking evening courses, stuffing your brain at the expense of your body, it's time you reversed the play." I listen attentively to good advice, and gave it consideration. As a result of Bela's advice, I joined the YMCA in St.Laurent.

The group that I joined was already in session. I had no difficulty with the warm up exercises but these were followed by 20 minutes of jogging. I ran around the gym twice and was out of breath.

The instructor asked me how I felt. I could not reply because I was gasping for air. He advised me to walk around the gym twice and run once, and in due time, I would be able to increase the jogging time. After several months I could keep pace with the group. I also started notice the benefits - both physically and mentally.

Then the YMCA offered a course to train new physical fitness instructors, so Bela and I registered. Upon completing the course successfully, we became instructors, offering our services voluntarily to the Y in St. Laurent.

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